FOUNTAIN HILL, Pa. (Interstat) — In a tense Patriot League clash that came down to the final seconds, the Lehigh Mountain Hawks secured a regular-season sweep of the Colgate Raiders with a 76-69 victory on Sunday at Stabler Arena.

The game, played before a crowd of 1,683, was a showcase for two of the conference’s premier players. Lehigh’s Nasir Whitlock delivered a masterful performance with 22 points and 10 assists, while Colgate’s Jalen Cox countered with a game-high 26 points. But it was the Mountain Hawks’ interior dominance, led by Hank Alvey’s 30 points and three blocks, that ultimately proved decisive in a contest where both teams scored 38 points in the paint.

Lehigh improved to 17-16 overall, while Colgate fell to 18-15. The win gave Lehigh a sweep of the season series, following a 77-76 overtime win at home on Jan. 31 and a 78-77 road victory on Jan. 10.

The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the final three minutes. With Lehigh clinging to a 68-65 lead, the Mountain Hawks executed a decisive 8-2 run to seize control. The sequence began when Alvey drew a foul and calmly sank two free throws. After a Colgate turnover, Whitlock, the reigning Patriot League Player of the Week, drilled a clutch 3-pointer to push the lead to 73-65 with just under three minutes remaining.

Colgate, which had fought back from a 33-30 halftime deficit, refused to capitulate. Andrew Alekseyenko, who finished with 19 points, converted a layup with 1:39 left to cut the deficit to 72-69. The Raiders then forced a Lehigh turnover, giving themselves a chance to draw closer. But Cox’s driving layup was emphatically rejected by Alvey, preserving the three-point margin.

On the ensuing possession, Whitlock was fouled and made both free throws with 2:03 remaining to restore a five-point lead. Colgate’s final attempts to rally were thwarted by missed 3-pointers and a critical turnover, allowing Lehigh to seal the game at the foul line.

The contest was a tale of contrasting strengths. Colgate’s offense ran primarily through Cox, who added five assists, and the inside-outside combination of Alekseyenko and Sam Wright, who scored 14 points. The Raiders managed only five fast-break points and were hampered by 10 turnovers, which Lehigh converted into 10 points.

Lehigh’s offense was a more balanced and fluid operation, fueled by Whitlock’s playmaking. His 10 assists consistently created high-percentage looks, particularly for Alvey, who was efficient around the rim. Joshua Ingram provided crucial support with 11 points, including key free throws down the stretch, and Edouard Benoit contributed seven points and steady defense.

Statistically, the game was remarkably even in several categories, but Lehigh’s advantages in bench scoring, fast-break points (9-5), and a slight edge in free-throw efficiency in the second half made the difference. The Mountain Hawks also managed the game’s tempo effectively in the closing minutes, preventing Colgate from establishing any sustained rhythm.

The victory provides Lehigh with momentum heading into the Patriot League tournament, having now won four of its last five games. For Colgate, the loss extends a pattern of narrow defeats in the series and underscores the challenge of containing a multifaceted Lehigh attack led by Whitlock’s orchestration and Alvey’s interior power. The game’s outcome defied the pregame spread, which had listed Colgate as a 2.5-point favorite, and the total points scored fell just under the over/under line of 146.5.