BOSTON – Following a week in Maryland, the Boston University men's basketball team will return to Case Gym on Saturday to host Colgate with tip-off slated for 1 p.m.
To help celebrate National Popcorn Day, fans attending the critical Patriot League matchup will receive free popcorn. Both the Terriers (9-9) and Raiders (10-8) are trying to create separation in the standings, as they are in a five-way tie for fifth at 2-3 in the standings with Lafayette in 10th at 1-4.
TERRIER TIDBITS
- BU is 4-3 at home with a PL win against two-time defending champion Bucknell (87-80) and loss to Army (86-82).
- Junior Max Mahoney leads the team in scoring at 17.6 ppg after posting a career-high 31 points in OT at Loyola Maryland on Wednesday ... He ranks seventh nationally at 67.0 FG% while leading the team in rebounding at 6.1 rpg.
- Reigning PL Rookie of the Week Jonas Harper enters the game at 4.7 ppg but is averaging 13.7 points over the last three games by shooting 10-of-12 (.833) from behind the arc.
- Both junior Tyler Scanlon (12.4 ppg) and sophomore Javante McCoy (11.1 ppg) are averaging double figures while averaging a combined 6.1 assists per game.
- BU ranks 45th nationally at 48.0 FG% while averaging 72.9 ppg and are holding opponents to 71.0 ppg and 44.4 FG% ... The Terriers are 8-4 when finishing with a higher percentage this season.
- The Terriers are third in the PL in rebounding margin (+2.2) and are 7-3 this season when finishing with a higher count.
SCOUTING COLGATE
- The Raiders are 4-8 on the road compared to their 6-0 home record ... They've lost their last five road games with closely contested defeats at Bucknell (84-81) and Navy (84-81) following double-digit losses at Pittsburgh and Penn State.
- Colgate owns key home wins against PL preseason favorite Lehigh, American, Marist and Monmouth.
- Northwestern transfer Rapolas Ivanauskas is nearly averaging a double-double at 14.3 ppg and 8.7 rpg, while guard Jordan Burns is averaging a team-high 17.6 ppg and 5.6 apg ... Forward Will Rayman is also in double figures at 12.6 ppg with 6.8 rpg.
- Colgate is averaging 74.1 ppg and 45.4 FG% while holding opponents to 72.2 ppg and 43.4 FG%.
- The Raiders are the top rebounding team in the PL with a positive margin of 3.5 rpg.
SERIES HISTORY
- BU leads the all-time series, 27-20, after both home teams won last season ... They first met in 1933-34.
- Scanlon recorded a double-double to help lead the Terriers to a 72-58 win at Case Gym, as BU shot 50.0 FG% while holding the Raiders to 29.5 FG%.
- In the rematch, Colgate flushed 12 3-pointers and finished with a 12-3 advantage in made free throws to claim the 74-60 victory.
