HAMILTON, N.Y. - Senior Brady Merchant scored a team-high 18 points to lead Harvard (5-2) to a 76-71 win over Colgate (3-5) Friday night at Cotterell Court.  The Crimson snapped a four-game losing streak against the Raiders with their three straight win of the season.

         Colgate dropped its second straight home game after winning seven straight on its home floor.  The Raiders break for final exams before traveling to Drexel University on Dec. 23.

Midway through the first half, Colgate led 20-18, but a 22-8 run by Harvard gave the Crimson a 40-28 halftime advantage. Merchant had 12 of his 18 points in the opening half.

Colgate closed the game to a two-point deficit on two separate occasions in the second half, but could never pull even as the Crimson held on for the victory.  The last time the Raiders were within two points was 64-62 with 5:36 remaining on Howard Blue’s layup. 

Also in double figures for Harvard were Sam Winter with 12, Brian Cusworth with 11 and Brian Sigafoos with 10.  Patrick Harvey tallied eight points, including the 1000^th of his career.  Elliot Prasse-Freeman recorded a game-high nine assists.

Blue had his first double-double of the season with a team-high 18 points and 12 rebounds for Colgate.  Also in double figures for the Raiders were Dave Hardy with 13 and Alvin Reed with a career-high 12.

Colgate held a slim edge in rebounding, 35-33, but Harvard shot 64 percent from the field to the Raiders 38 percent.