HAMILTON, N.Y. (Interstat) — Colgate built a decisive first-half lead and never trailed, defeating Army 69-55 in a Patriot League men’s basketball game Wednesday night at Cotterell Court. The Raiders opened a 38-28 halftime advantage, powered by 14 points from Andrew Alekseyenko, and maintained control throughout the second half. Colgate’s interior dominance was key, outscoring Army 34-14 in the paint. Jaxson Bell led the Black Knights with 18 points. Ben Tweedy scored 16 for Colgate, which improved to 14-10. Army fell to 10-14.

HAMILTON, N.Y. (Interstat) — Colgate used a dominant first-half performance and a balanced scoring attack to pull away from Army for a 69-55 victory in a Patriot League men’s basketball game Wednesday night at Cotterell Court. The Raiders, improving to 14-10 overall, built a 10-point halftime lead and never let the visiting Black Knights mount a serious challenge after the break. Army fell to 10-14. The most critical stretch of the game came late in the first half, turning a tight contest into a comfortable Colgate lead. With just over three minutes remaining before halftime and Army trailing 24-22, the Raiders closed the period on a decisive 14-6 run. The surge was fueled by Andrew Alekseyenko, who scored eight points during the sequence, including a tip-in layup and a 3-pointer. Ben Tweedy capped the half with a 3-pointer at the 26-second mark, sending Colgate into the locker room with a 38-28 advantage and all the momentum. Army never recovered from that closing burst. The Black Knights struggled offensively all night, shooting just 32.7% from the field and mustering only 14 points in the paint. Colgate, by contrast, was efficient inside, scoring 34 points in the paint and converting Army’s 12 turnovers into 18 points. Jaxson Bell led all scorers with 18 points for Army, but it came on inefficient shooting. Andrew Alekseyenko paced Colgate with 14 points, four assists and a blocked shot in 27 minutes. Ben Tweedy added a team-high 16 points for the Raiders, while Sam Wright contributed 10 points and seven rebounds. Colgate’s defense was particularly effective in limiting Army’s offensive rhythm, holding the Black Knights to an offensive rating of 85.2 points per 100 possessions. The Raiders also won the battle on the glass, securing 10 offensive rebounds that led to 11 second-chance points. Army briefly showed signs of life early in the second half, but after a jumper by Bell cut the deficit to 44-38 with just over 15 minutes to play, Colgate responded with a 9-2 run to push its lead back to 13. The Raiders maintained a double-digit advantage for nearly the entire remainder of the game, leading by as many as 16 points. The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Colgate, which also defeated Army 76-69 on Jan. 3. The Raiders now hold a half-game lead in the Patriot League standings. Both teams return to conference play on Saturday. Army will host Lafayette, while Colgate travels to face Bucknell.

Preview: Army Looks to Avenge Early Loss, Halt Colgate in Patriot League Showdown HAMILTON, N.Y. (Interstat) — A pivotal Patriot League men’s basketball matchup awaits Wednesday night as the Colgate Raiders host the Army Black Knights at Cotterell Court. The Raiders (13-10 overall) enter with a slight edge in the standings and the confidence of a 76-69 victory at West Point just over a month ago, on Jan. 3. Colgate, however, seeks to rebound from a heartbreaking 77-76 overtime road loss at Lehigh last Saturday. In that defeat, junior guard Jalen Cox was spectacular, scoring 34 points and grabbing nine rebounds in 42 minutes. Cox has been the engine for Colgate, averaging 22.1 points over his last eight games. His backcourt battle will be central to the contest, as Army (10-13) counters with its own high-scoring guard in senior Ryan Curry. Curry is coming off a 27-point performance in a narrow 69-68 home win over Holy Cross, Army’s second consecutive victory following a three-game skid. The recent trends paint a picture of two teams finding their rhythm in close games. Four of Army’s last five contests have been decided by four points or fewer, with the Black Knights going 3-1 in those tight finishes. Colgate has seen similar drama, with three of its last four games—including both meetings with Lehigh—being decided by a single point. Beyond the star guards, the frontcourt battle will be critical. Colgate’s Andrew Alekseyenko posted a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double against Lehigh, while Army’s Joshua Eli hauled in 12 rebounds in the win over Holy Cross. With both teams clustered in the middle of the Patriot League table, this game carries significant weight for postseason positioning. Army aims to prove its recent winning form is sustainable and exact revenge for its January loss. Colgate looks to protect its home court and solidify its position above .NAVY both overall and in the conference. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. EST on Wednesday, Feb. 4.