Colgate’s class sees Raiders down Mountain Hawks
A STRONG first half from the Colgate Raiders has seen the New York-based side prove too good for the Lehigh Mountain Hawks in the NCAA Division I clash on Monday.
The Raiders have enjoyed a slightly more positive start to the competition than their opponents, and punished a disappointing beginning to the match from the Mountain Hawks to take a double-digit lead into the main break, and never looked back from there.
Colgate fired in the opening stages of the game, looking fluid in its offensive sets and picking apart the Lehigh defence with strong ball movement and attacking play. Often the Mountain Hawks were exposed going downhill and found themselves on the back foot. By the time the first half wrapped, the Raiders had pumped out 43 points, 12 more than the opposition and looked in the box seat to take home the victory. Although the second half was a much tighter affair as Lehigh clamped up on the defensive end a bit, Colgate was still too good for the opposition and cruised home to a 76-60 triumph.
The victors were led by an imposing offensive performance from Braeden Smith, with the guard leading the match in scoring. Despite standing at just six foot, Smith stood taller in impact than anything, using his inside scoring and mid-range damage to end the match with 24 points (8/13 FG, 7/7 FT). Also impressing for the Raiders were Oliver Lynch-Daniels (14 points, 6/9 FG) and Tucker Richardson (11 points).
On the flip side, Evan Taylor was the standout for the Mountain Hawks, with the lengthy guard ending the match with 19 points (a team-high figure) and six rebounds. At six-foot-six, he has proven to be a tough matchup in the past and his ability to score the rock came to the forefront again. Tyler Whitney-Sidney had 13 points for Lehigh as well while Keith Higgins Jr. added 12 of his own.
The Raiders have now improved to a record of above .500 on the season thanks to Monday’s triumph, sitting at 8-7 on the year. If they can continue to execute on the offensive end as they did in the first half, that win tally should improve further. In contrast, the Mountain Hawks have slumped to 5-8 on the season, and are yet to defeat an opponent in their division. Defence should be a point of emphasis in the coming weeks given it was the biggest factor in the loss to Colgate.
Aussies in Arizona continues as Dell’Orso commits to Wildcats
AUSTRALIAN basketball prospects are continuing to make waves in the college basketball scene, with Anthony Dell’Orso set to join the Arizona Wildcats next NCAAM season. After joining the transfer portal following a stint with Campbell, Dell’Orso has committed to the Wildcats, an organisation that has hosted plenty of Australian talent in the past. He is […]
Wolfpack surge past Colarado with statement win
IN the battle of two undefeated division one women’s basketball teams, it was North Carolina State who was the last one standing of the pair, defeating Colorado by 18 points in the NCAAW on the weekend. A 22-6 opening term set up the memorable 78-60 victory. The win moved North Carolina State to a 7-0 […]
Smith makes it Reyne in tight win
AUSTRALIAN guard Reyne Smith was the catalyst for Charleston’s win over Kent State in the NCAA thanks to an impressive shooting performance. The Cougars’ guard is a Junior, and averaging 98 points this season, but stepped up for a memorable shooting display in the 84-78 victory over the Golden Flashes. Trailing by six points at […]
Schweizer steps up in junior campaign
THE NCAAW is one of the best pathways for rising women basketball stars to take in order to reach the top level, although it does require a certain level of patience at times. That has been the case for Aussie Rosie Schweizer, who just wrapped her third season as a member of the Pacific Tigers […]
Triantis takes terrific next step for Jacks
THE 2022/23 college basketball season saw a number of Aussies shine in the system, with some strong individual campaigns from some of the country’s young guns. That trend extended to Loukas Triantis, who enjoyed an eye-catching season as a member of the Dakota College at Bottineau (DCB) Jacks. After an impressive campaign with the team […]
Smith steps up for Tigers in third season
THE collegiate system is one of the biggest in the world for player development, with the best prospects from all across the globe heading to the United States to try and take their game to the next level. This is extended to Australia’s brightest young talents, including guard Sara-Rose Smith, who joined the Missouri Tigers […]
Ellis’ extra opportunity produces growth
AUSSIES continued to hit the court in the NCAAW during the 2022/23 season, with the number growing on a yearly basis and that trend rolling on over the past 12 months. Although some have to bide their time on the bench for their first couple of years, they often reward coaches whenever they are given […]
Edmanson edges further with Broncos
DURING her junior season with the Santa Clara Broncos in the NCAAW, Aussie Lara Edmanson delivered her strongest campaign to date. She joined the Broncos back in 2020, and throughout her first three years with the team, the guard has shown gradual progression that has been rewarded with a constant increase in court time. During […]
That’s Amoore: guard produces excellent campaign
THERE are plenty of Aussies showing constant improvement at the collegiate level, with the big stage not fazing some of the best prospects the country has to offer. In her third season in the NCAAW, Georgia Amoore took things up a notch and delivered her best numbers since heading to the United States. A crucial […]
