Andre Ingram scored a game-high 16 points and the Eagles held Colgate to 1-15 shooting from three-point range to earn a 59-44 victory in the Patriot League Tournament Quarterfinals on Wednesday night at Bender Arena.
The Eagles jumped out to a 14-point lead early in the second half, but the Raiders held AU to just two points in a four-minute span to cut the lead to eight. However, with less than seven minutes remaining Ingram jumped in front of Kyle Chones and drew a charge.
Ingram followed up the charge with an 18-footer, and after a Paulius Joneliunas block, Arvydas Eitutavicius hit a lay-up and a three-pointer on consecutive possessions to give AU a 50-35 lead.
"I think we needed that, I had a turnover the previous play and Mercer turned it over before that," said Ingram. "I'm glad that it turned things around. We refocused after that and were able to get some good possessions."
Eitutavicius scored 15 points for the Eagles and Paulius Joneliunas added in 12 points. Travis Lay grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds, including five on the offensive glass.
"In a game like tonight that was as low scoring and sluggish, every little bit helps," said head coach Jeff Jones.
The Eagles got off to a slow start in the first half, trailing by three midway through frame. However, AU took a four-point lead after Joneliunas scored off of an offensive rebound and Linas Lekavicius stole the ball and nailed a transition lay-up.
The AU defense held Colgate to just 30 percent shooting from the field and 6.7 percent shooting from the three-point range. Kyle Chones, who scored 15 points in the second half in AU's overtime win at Colgate earlier this season, scored just six points on 3-12 shooting on Wednesday.
"He hurt us so badly at the start of the second half in the game up in Hamilton," said Jones. "We schemed to try and take those things away."\
With the win, AU advances to the semifinal round of the PL tournament. They will travel to Worchester to face off against Holy Cross on Sunday. Holy Cross swept the regular season series, and the Eagles have not beaten the Crusaders since 2004.
"It's going to be a difficult task," said Jones. "I think that our guys understand that we aren't going up there to be sacrificial lambs, but we have our work cut out for us."
Unless Army and AU both win their second round games, Wednesday night was the final home game for AU's six seniors.
"I thought it would be sad, but it's not really," said Ingram. "It's an enjoyable time, and if this is my last game, we came out with a victory."
Hoops Notes: Romone Penny made a rare appearance on the score sheet, scoring one point and grabbing two rebounds in under one minute of playing time.Kendall Chones led Colgate with 12 points, the only Raider in double figures.Other PL Tournament games: Holy Cross 83-Lafayette 53, Bucknell 62-Navy 43, Army 47-Lehigh 46.
