COLGATE BASKETBALL TO PLAY HOST TO HARTWICK COLLEGE MONDAY NIGHT

HAMILTON, N.Y. - The Colgate Raiders return to action on Monday night, when they play host to Hartwick College at Cotterell Court.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The Raiders (3-6) will try to avoid a fourth straight loss as they play Hartwick for the first time since the 1972-73 season.  Colgate leads the overall series against the Hawks, 6-1, but Hartwick won the last meeting 63-61 at Cotterell Court.

Colgate’s losing streak has seen the Raiders drop home decisions to Long Island (78-70) and Harvard (76-71) and lose at Drexel (75-54) last Monday night in Philadelphia.

Hartwick (4-1) will be playing its first game since Dec. 7, when the Hawks had a four-game winning streak snapped by Union College, 74-64.

Last Monday night, Colgate trailed Drexel by one point at halftime, only to have the Dragons outscore the visitors 39-19 in the second half to keep the Raiders winless in four road outings this season.  Junior guard Mark Linebaugh led Colgate with 13 points and seven rebounds, while senior guard Dave Hardy added 12 points.

Junior Howard Blue continues to lead Colgate in scoring and rebounding with 13.7 ppg and 6.9 rpg.  Blue is supported by Hardy (10.8 ppg) and Linebaugh (10.4 ppg) in the scoring column.  Colgate’s other two starters, sophomore Andrew Zidar and senior Tim Sullivan are averaging 9.3 and 8.5 points per game, respectively.

Senior Joel Blackwell leads Hartwick with 21.2 points per game and 9.2 rebounds per outing.  Nate Cramer is averaging 14.8 points per game followed by Matt Guzielek with 11.8 ppg and David Orr with 11.0 ppg.

Colgate is 3-2 at home and Hartwick is 2-0 on the road with both victories coming in overtime at the Holiday Inn Classic.