WEST POINT, N.Y. – Colgate got off to a slow start allowing Army to build a double-digit lead it never relinquished in the Raiders' second straight loss, 84-72, Wednesday night at Christl Arena. 

COACH LANGEL'S COMMENTS

"Army beat us in just about every aspect of the game. Their starters outplayed us. Their bench players outplayed us. They were really well prepared and they played great. We didn't make enough shots to get back into it and we didn't respond the way I had hoped coming off a hard-fought last game for us. Moving forward we have a choice to make in how we go about our preparation and buy into all the things that have made us a good program. We're not going to feel sorry for ourselves. A lot of conference play left. Quick turnaround to get ready for Lafayette on Saturday."

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Colgate held a brief 20-18 lead before the Black Knights used a pair of 9-0 runs both capped by 3-pointers from Jalen Rucker to build a double-digit advantage. Shots weren't falling for the Raiders, who went more than five minutes of game time without a made field goal and trailed 37-22 with four minutes left in the half.
   
• Chandler Baker made a pull-up jumper at 8:15 of the half, and Colgate didn't score again until two free throws from Jeff Woodward with 3:05 remaining. Army stretched its lead to 17 points, 44-27, before the Raiders closed on a 6-0 run sparked by a trey from Brady Cummins to cut the margin to 44-33 at halftime.
   
• The Raiders trimmed the margin to single-digits with a scoop and score from Parker Jones, and then a Cummins' layup closed Colgate within seven points, 53-46, but the Black Knights answered with a 5-0 spurt to build the lead back up to 12 points, 60-48, with 11:46 remaining in the game.
   
• A key turning point in the second half occurred when Woodward sank a layup to cut the deficit to 69-61. He then collected a rebound off a missed Army shot, but was called for a late foul. Tate Laczkowski ensued with a 3-pointer to start a 7-0 response for the Black Knights, who led by as many as 16 down the stretch.
   
• Late 3-pointers from Baker, Jones, and Cummins were not enough and Colgate suffered its second straight defeat, 84-72. 

GAME NOTES

• Jeff Woodward recorded his second consecutive 20-point game, finishing with 22 points.
• Brady Cummins' 16 points were his most since his career-high 20 against Sam Houston State (Nov. 30).
• This is the first time since 2018 Colgate has lost back-to-back Patriot League games. 
• The loss also snapped Colgate's 10-game winning streak against Army dating back to 2021.

UP NEXT
Colgate (9-13, 6-3 Patriot) is back home Saturday to host Lafayette for a 2 p.m. tipoff at Cotterell Court.