ZIDAR LEADS COLGATE OVER BUCKNELL 64-56; RAIDERS CLOSE REGULAR SEASON WITH FIVE STRAIGHT WINS

(Game Statistics)

LEWISBURG, PA – Sophomore Andrew Zidar scored 15 points and grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds to lead Colgate to a 64-56 win over Bucknell Sunday afternoon at the Sojka Pavilion. 

With the victory, Colgate (14-13, PL 9-5) finishes in a second place tie with American University in the Patriot League standings.  The Raiders, who have won five straight games, will be seeded third in the Patriot League Tournament at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, March 8-9.  They will face sixth-seeded Lafayette College in the quarterfinals at 7:30 p.m. on March 8.

Colgate’s nine victories in conference play are the most by the Raiders since the 1995-96 season when they captured the Patriot League title.

Colgate had dropped five straight to Bucknell, including a 62-42 decision earlier this season at Cotterell Court, and nine of the last 10 meetings.  This is the Raiders’ first win in Lewisburg since the 1997-98 season.

Zidar, who had the first double-double of his career, received scoring help from Mark Linebaugh with 15 points and Howard Blue with 10 points.  Dave Hardy added nine points and five assists.

After Bucknell scored the first point of the game, Zidar tallied nine straight points to start a 13-0 run for the Raiders, who jumped out to a 13-1 lead.  Colgate led by as many as 14 points in the first half before settling for a 35-25 halftime advantage.

In the second half, Colgate increased its lead to 12 points, 39-27, but Bucknell roared back with a 16-5 run to trail 44-43 with nine minutes remaining.  The Raiders answered the challenge with a 9-2 run behind five straight points by Linebaugh to move in front by seven points, 53-46, with 5:33 left.

After Colgate opened up a 10-point advantage, 59-49, Bucknell made one last run at the Raiders.  Kevin Bettencourt scored six straight to cut the deficit to four points, but Hardy and Zidar each hit a pair of free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.