LAVAL, QC (Interstat) — In a game decided by the slimmest of margins, the Colgate Raiders edged the Albany Great Danes 69-67 in a non-conference men’s basketball thriller on Friday night at Place Bell.

The contest was a tale of two halves, with Albany building a lead before Colgate mounted a second-half comeback to secure the victory in front of a crowd of 1,738.

Albany controlled the first half, using an efficient offensive performance to take a 36-28 lead into the break. The Great Danes shot the ball effectively from the floor in the opening period, building their advantage with a balanced attack. Colgate, meanwhile, struggled to find a consistent rhythm, leaving them with a significant deficit to overcome.

The second half saw a dramatic shift in momentum. The Raiders emerged from the locker room with renewed energy, chipping away at the Albany lead with improved offensive execution and defensive pressure. Colgate outscored Albany 41-31 after halftime, a surge that ultimately proved to be the difference in the game.

The final minutes were a tense, back-and-forth affair. With just over two minutes remaining, Albany’s Amir Lindsey connected on a 3-pointer to pull the Great Danes to within two points. Colgate responded with key defensive stops and crucial possessions to maintain their narrow lead.

Albany had a chance to tie or win the game in the final seconds. After a Colgate turnover with 13 seconds left gave the Great Danes possession, Lindsey drove to the basket for a potential game-tying layup, but his attempt in the final second missed the mark, sealing the victory for the Raiders.

Statistically, the game was remarkably even, underscoring the tight nature of the contest. Both teams shot nearly 47 percent from the floor. Colgate held a slight advantage from beyond the arc, making 10 of 27 3-point attempts compared to Albany’s 8 of 20. The Raiders also forced 12 Albany turnovers while committing only nine of their own, a key factor in a two-point game.

Jalen Cox led the way for Colgate, playing a game-high 36 minutes and finishing with 17 points and seven assists. His leadership and playmaking were instrumental in the Raiders’ second-half resurgence. Kyle Carlesimo provided a critical spark off the bench, hitting four 3-pointers to help fuel the comeback.

For Albany, Amir Lindsey was the primary offensive engine, scoring 16 points and dishing out five assists. Okechukwu Okeke was a force inside, contributing 15 points and two assists. Zach Matulu also reached double figures for the Great Danes with 11 points.

The win improves Colgate’s season record to 3-4. The loss drops Albany to 2-5 on the young season. Both teams are scheduled to continue play in the multi-team event at Place Bell on Saturday. Colgate will face SUNY Oneonta, while Albany is set to take on Fordham.

The game defied pregame expectations, as Colgate was favored by six points according to sportsbooks. The combined score of 136 also fell well short of the projected over/under line of 145, making it a defensive struggle that was not anticipated. National statistical models had given Colgate a nearly 60 percent chance of victory, a prediction that ultimately proved correct, though the path to the win was far more difficult than projected.