Preview: Colgate Raiders at Army Black Knights

WEST POINT, N.Y. (Interstat) — Two teams riding winning momentum will meet in a Patriot League showdown Saturday when the Army Black Knights host the Colgate Raiders at Christl Arena.

Both teams enter the Jan. 3 contest with identical 7-7 overall records, each coming off overtime road victories to close 2025. Colgate defeated Lafayette 85-77 behind a career-high 29 points from guard Jalen Cox. Army edged Lehigh 85-78 in overtime, powered by a 19-point, 14-rebound double-double from forward Ryan Curry.

The matchup features two of the conference’s top performers. Cox, Colgate’s dynamic guard, is averaging 20.2 points over his last five games, including a 26-point effort at Saint Bonaventure and 29 at Lafayette. His playmaking will be central to the Raiders’ attack.

Army counters with Curry, who has posted consecutive standout performances. He followed a 23-point, 9-rebound, 7-assist game in a win over Binghamton with his dominant showing against Lehigh. His versatility and energy on the glass will challenge Colgate’s frontcourt, which saw Sam Wright (20 points, 9 rebounds) and Andrew Alekseyenko (14 points, 9 rebounds) excel last time out.

Both teams have navigated challenging non-conference schedules. Colgate’s losses include road games at Florida and Illinois, while Army has faced setbacks against George Washington and Cornell. Each squad has shown resilience, however, with Army winning three of its last four and Colgate capturing two of its last three.

The game marks the Patriot League opener for both programs. The Raiders will look to leverage their efficient offense, which scored 85 or more points in three of their last five games. The Black Knights will rely on their recent defensive form, having held opponents to 78 points or fewer in three straight wins.

History will be made quickly in the series, as the teams are scheduled to meet again at Colgate on Feb. 4.

Tip-off is set for Saturday afternoon at Christl Arena. Colgate visits American next on Jan. 7, while Army hosts Loyola Maryland the same day.