WASHINGTON – The greatest conference run in Patriot League history came to an unfortunate end one game short of a championship, as the third-seeded Raiders fell to second-seeded American 72-62 in semifinal action Sunday afternoon at Bender Arena. 

Colgate will not represent the Patriot League in the championship game for the first time since 2017, ending a magical ride of seven consecutive championship appearances, four straight titles, and five crowns in six years under 14th-year head coach Matt Langel. 

American, which has now won four straight head-to-head games against the Raiders including three this season, will host fifth-seeded Navy in the championship game on Wednesday. The Midshipmen upset top-seeded Bucknell 83-77 in Lewisburg. 

Jalen Cox and Jeff Woodward led Colgate's scoring contingent with 16 points apiece. Cox was an efficient 7-of-9 from the field and added four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

Chandler Baker was 5-of-11 from the field and 2-of-4 from behind the arc en route to 12 points to go with a career-high three steals. 

COACH LANGEL'S COMMENTS

"I want to acknowledge and tip my cap to American and their coaching staff. They're a really tough, hard-nosed, disciplined, determined, and talented group. Now they have a chance to play at home for a championship. I've coached a lot of guys who have had that opportunity and that's something you don't always get. Obviously a hard-fought game tonight. We didn't shoot well enough or play well enough to survive in this environment. We certainly gave it everything we had. I'm immeasurably proud of our group, especially our seniors, for all they've been through, for their commitment to the program, for the leadership, and for the teammates they've been. Sad to see our seniors go but very thankful and grateful for all that they've done for our program."

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Colgate came out firing once again, building an early 12-4 lead after trifectas from Baker and Parker Jones. The Raiders maintained an eight-point lead, 22-14, after Nicolas Louis-Jacques drilled a 3-pointer with 5:24 showing in the opening stanza. 
• American eventually came back to tie the game on back-to-back 3-pointers from Greg Jones and it was 26-26 when a steal by Baker led to another buzzer-beating triple from Jones to give the Raiders a 29-26 lead at the intermission. 
• Backed by the home crowd, American wore the Raiders down with their shooting in the second half. The Eagles shot 55 percent from the field including 62.5 percent from behind the arc (5-8) to tilt the momentum and build a double-digit lead. 
• Woodward, trying to will the Raiders back into the game, scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Collin Smalls thwarted any Colgate comeback attempt, however, giving American its largest lead, 66-52, with 2:35 remaining.
• Colgate cut the margin to eight points, 70-62, on a late trey from Baker but the Eagles took care of their free throws to secure their fourth straight win over the Raiders. 

GAME NOTES

• Colgate's three seniors, Woodward, Louis-Jacques, and Baker conclude their Colgate careers 88-49 overall and 59-13 against Patriot League opponents. That includes four Patriot League championships, four 20-win seasons, and four regular season titles.
• Woodward's .600 career field goal percentage is second-best in program history, trailing only his four-year teammate Keegan Records (.626). His 714 career rebounds are good for eighth all-time and his points scored (1,199) finished 25th in the record book.
• Baker's .413 career three-point percentage lands him fourth in program history, just ahead of assistant coach Pat Moore's .406 mark. Louis-Jacques' .366 three-point clip is tied for 25th in the record book.