Colby-Sawyer evens its overall record at 6-6 and improves to 5-1 in the NAC. Thomas falls to 3-8 overall and 3-3 in conference play.
The first half featured nine lead changes with Colby-Sawyer holding its largest lead of the frame with a 36-27 edge at the break. Sophomore Levi Barnes had nine points and eight rebounds to lead the Terriers in the first. Colby-Sawyer shot just 28.2% from the floor but made 10 of its 13 free throw attempts. Junior Kyle Nelson scored all eight of his points in the first half.
The Chargers found their shooting touch in the second half making 18 of 29 (62.1%) attempts from the floor. The home team pushed its lead to 24 at the 11:39 mark after a Mike Dias layup. Colby-Sawyer was in front 79-59 with five minutes left to play when Thomas went on a 14-4 run capped by a Mike Akanji trey to close the gap to 83-73. That would be as close as the visitors would get as Dias knocked in a pair of free throws down the stretch to lift Colby-Sawyer to the 85-73 win.
Junior Zach Bean led the Chargers with 20 points on 5-11 shooting. He went 8-8 from the free throw line. Mike Dias added 18 points on 7-10 shooting off the bench. Junior Koang Thok was the third Charger to reach double figures with 12 points. Senior Stephen Thorpe moved into a tie for 7th with Matt George '98 with 157 career steals.
Thomas received a game-high 25 points from senior Garen Manzo. He was 8-12 from the floor and 4-6 from beyond the arc. Levi Barnes finished with 18 points and a team best nine rebounds. Mike Akanji added 11 points and six rebounds off the bench.
The Terriers host Maine Maritime on Tuesday at 5:30pm
COURTESY OF COLBY-SAWYER SID OFFICE