Men’s Basketball Falls in Close Contest at Colby, 59-58

WATERVILLE, Maine – Suffolk men's basketball dropped its first contest of the Colby Classic on Friday, as it slipped to tournament host Colby, 59-58, at the Margaret M. Crook Center. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 58 |Colby 59
RECORDS: Suffolk (3-2) | Colby Sawyer (3-0)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Colby raced out to a 19-6 advantage, getting contributions from seven different scorers over the first 7:26 of action.
• Harrison Niel supplied the spark the Rams needed, drilling a three from the top of the key before dropping in a floater from the right block. The momentum snowballed into a 12-0 Suffolk surge over a 2:35 stretch, highlighted by Hatcher Nordquist triple and fast break layups from Conor Strickland and Marquis White, trimming the gap to 19-18.
• The teams traded punches down the stretch of the first half, splitting the final 18 points evenly. In a frame that featured four lead changes, the Rams went into the locker room trailing 28-27.
• Suffolk came out blazing to start the second half, burying its first three shots from deep. Greg Keane then capped the burst with a layup at 14:20 to give the Rams their largest lead of the day, 42-36.
• Colby responded with a 19-13 stretch, but Nick Verdile stopped the rally with a timely three that pulled Suffolk within one, 57-56, with 3:43 left. White reclaimed the lead for the Rams on a driving layup at the 2:17 mark, before the Mules answered with 1:11 to go.
• Niel had a look at a game-winning three with two seconds remaining, but the shot came up short as Colby escaped with a 59-58 decision.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• White led all scorers with 23 points to go along with five rebounds and four assists.
• Verdile added 12 points and five rebounds, while Niel stacked 10 points and three rebounds.
• Jones notched six points and nine rebounds and was a factor on the defensive end with three blocks and two steals.
• The match featured 10 ties and 16 lead changes.
• The Mules outrebounded the Rams, 41-29. 

NOTEWORTHY 

• Suffolk and Colby renewed a rivalry, meeting for the first time since Nov. 27, 1993. 
• White tallied career-highs in points (23), rebounds (5), assists (4), and shots made (7).
• Jones set personal bests in blocks (3) and steals (2).
• Nordquist knocked down his first career triple and reached career highs in points (3) and rebounds (5). 

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Rams continue tournament play in Vacation Land tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 22 against Southern Maine at 3:00 p.m.