(Boxscore)

            ANNAPOLIS, MD. – Finally!  Senior guard Bill Kern nailed two free throws with 28 seconds remaining to lift Colgate to a 66-65 come-from-behind win over Navy at Alumni Hall Wednesday night.

            The Raiders (15-9 overall, 6-5 Patriot League) snapped an 11-game losing streak against the Midshipmen and gave coach Emmett Davis his first win over his former team after eight losses.  The victory also assured Colgate of its first winning season since the 1994-95 campaign.

            After Kern’s two free throws, his only points of the game, Navy (10-16, 5-6) had three chances to win the contest.  The first two Navy chances saw the Mids come up with an offensive rebound off a missed attempt, and then with three seconds remaining Colgate’s Dave Hardy stole the ball from Jason Jeanpierre to seal the victory.

            Pat Campolieta finished with 14 points for the Raiders, while Hardy added 11 points and Mark Linebaugh nailed 10 points.  Howard Blue added nine points and seven rebounds for Colgate.  Navy was led by Jeanpierre and Demond Shepard with 14 apiece.

            Navy opened the contest with a 4-0 lead before Colgate went on a 16-7 run for a five-point advantage.  The Mids battled back to tie the game 18-18 but the Raiders answered the challenge with a 10-2 run for a 28-20 lead with 4:30 left in the first half.  Colgate maintained its eight-point margin at halftime, 40-32.

            In the second half, Colgate jumped out to a nine-point lead 47-38 before Navy came roaring back outscoring the Raiders 20-6 for a 58-53 lead with 8:02 remaining.  Colgate again answered the challenge fighting back with an 11-1 run and a five-point lead, 64-59.

            The Mids once again retook the lead with six straight points, 65-64, with 2:29 left setting the stage for Kern’s game-clinching free throws.  Kern was sent to the line after he made a steal.