By Josh Lamel

Maroon-News Staff

Colgate men's basketball began NCAA play Thanksgiving weekend at the Fry's Invitational in Palo Alto, California. Venturing across the country, they were greeted by host team Stanford, who disposed of the Red Raiders 82-70. The loss by only 12 points was in a sense a moral victory, as Colgate stayed with a more athletic Stanford team most of the way. Colgate sped out of the gate and held a one point half time lead. Then in the second half, they were pulled back down to earth.

Stanford dominated the rest of the way and put the nail in the coffin when senior Tukcer Neale fouled out with two minutes to go. Neale led all Colgate scorers with 28 points. First-year Adonal Foyle only had 8 points and five rebounds, but did swat six shots.

The next night, in the consolation game, Colgate lost to Butler 84-74. Butler, coached by ex-Providence superstar and Rick Pitino deciple Billy Donovan, showed the heart and guts that Donovan showed in his career, beating a better Red Raider team.

For Colgate, Neale again led the way with 29 points, and Foyle chipped in ten points, ten rebounds and five blocked shots. Coach Bruen was very unhappy with the loss against a team that he thought Colgate should have beaten.

Then came Tuesday night, the battle for central New York bragging Rights as Colgate traveled up Route 92 to face Syracuse. Right from the start the Orangemen's talent showed why many experts had them rated in the top 10 this preseason. A Michael Lloyd lay-up, John Wallace free throw, Lucious Jackson trey and a Lawrence Moten lay-up jumped Syracuse out to an 8-0 lead. They never looked back, dispatching the Red Raiders 88-53.

With six minutes gone it was 21-4. Syracuse's lead peaked in the first half at 38-13 off another Jackson three with six minutes left to play. Colgate cut it to 21, but a John Wallace dunk off an alley-oop made it 46-21 at the half.

Colgate played much better in the second half but Syracuse again outplayed them in a half of basketball that was played for nothing but pride.

For Colgate, Foyle led the way with 15 points. He also had 15 boards and five more blocks. Syracuse was led by Lucious Jackson who had 16 points. The key to the game was the coaching of Jim Boheim. His defensive schemes took Tucker Neale out of the game. He always had one man on him, sometimes two or three. He had one open three pointer attempt all night, and by then he was so frustrated that he missed it.

After the game I spoke to Neale about the Syracuse defense. It was his feeling that they were just better athletes. He also talked of the Big East style of play evident on the court by trash talking, jersey grabbing, elbowing and shoving.

"It's all part of the game. Yeah, they grabbed my jersey to stop me from getting free, but they beat us. They're better athletes, there is nothing we could do," he said.

Bruen said there was nothing good to take out of this game except the play of Foyle, who stepped up his game. "The only thing that kept us from being totally embarrassed instead of just plain embarrassed was Adonal."

Also having good games for Colgate were sophomore Rob Murray, who scored six and junior Chris Nicholas, who had four.

The Red Raider's next game is tonight at the Missoulian/Coca-Cola Classic in Montana, where Colgate takes on its third national power in four games in Mississippi State. The consolation game and finals are Saturday.

Next Thursday the team travels to Maryland to play top ten Maryland. On December 16 Colgate will play Harvard in the home opener, and then travel to the ECAC Holiday festival on December 27 and 29 against the University of Pennsylvania. With a victory over Penn., St. John's will probably be the next opponent.

It is going to be a long, hard pre-Patriot League Season for Colgate basketball, as they challenge some of the country's best teams. Come the start of the League season, however, they