LINEBAUGH'S 3-POINTER AT THE BUZZER LIFTS COLGATE OVER AMERICAN, 60-59

(Game Statistics)

HAMILTON, N.Y. – Junior Mark Linebaugh launched a 48-foot shot at the buzzer to lift Colgate to a 60-59 upset win over American in a Patriot League game Sunday afternoon at Cotterell Court.

Colgate (12-13, PL 7-5) moves into a three-way tie for third place in the Patriot League standings with American (12-13, PL 7-5) and Bucknell, one game behind second place Lehigh with two games remaining in the regular season.

Colgate's victory snapped a three-game losing streak against the Eagles.

American had taken a 59-57 lead with 1.5 seconds left on Glenn Stokes’ jumper from the corner.  After Colgate called timeout, senior Tim Sullivan found Linebaugh with the in bounds pass, and the junior from Cleona, Penn. sent the crowd home happy on Senior Day for the Raiders.

Senior Dave Hardy was Colgate’s leading scorer with 16 points as he passed the 900 career point mark.  Linebaugh finished with 14 points, while Howard Blue added 11 and Martin Marek tallied 10.

American was led by Stokes and Steven Miles with 14 points apiece and Matej Cresnik tallied 11.

The Eagles held a 29-24 halftime lead as Colgate committed 10 turnovers in the first half.  In the second half, American extended its lead to 10 points, 34-24, scoring the first five points of the half.

Colgate responded with an 18-4 run over the next seven minutes to take a 42-36 lead with 11:53 remaining.  The Raiders held the lead until there was 2:13 remaining when the Eagles went ahead, 53-52, on Andres Rodriquez’s 3-pointer.

With Colgate behind 55-54, the Raiders went back in front 57-55 on Marek’s 3-pointer from the corner.  American then tied the contest 57-57 on Cresnik’s two free throws with 1:04 remaining.

Colgate outrebounded American, 33-29, led by Marek with six and Alvin Reed and Andrew Zidar with five apiece.