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HAMILTON, N.Y. - The seventh-seeded Navy men's basketball team (13-19) fell to second-seeded Colgate (16-16), 72-62, in the Patriot League Men's Basketball Tournament Quarterfinal on Thursday evening at Cotterell Court. Colgate will host #6 American in the tournament's semifinal round on Sunday.

"I thought Colgate played well," said head coach Ed DeChellis. "I give them a lot of credit. I thought they shared the ball offensively. We just were a step behind in everything we did tonight. We didn't play as well as we can. At this time of the year when it's one-and-done you have to play your best basketball. It's unfortunate."

Colgate's Matt McMullen led five players in double figures with a game-high 18 points and he also pulled down 15 rebounds. Ethan Jacobs and Luke Roh both scored 14 points, while Alex Ramon came off the bench to score 13. Senior first-team all-conference honoree Damon Sherman-Newsome scored 11.

Junior guard Tilman Dunbar led Navy with 17 points and freshman guard Bryce Dulin came off the bench to score a season-high 16 points, all in the second half. Senior forward Worth Smith had nine points and eight rebounds in the final game of his collegiate career.

Navy began fouling Colgate late in hopes of sparking a comeback, but the Raiders were able to knock down enough free throws to hold off Navy's rally. Colgate was 25-of-33 from the free throw line and McMullen was 9-of-10.

An early 3-pointer by Navy's Zach Fong's put Navy ahead 7-6 five minutes into the first half, and the teams were tied at 10-10 and 12-12. After junior center Will Kelly went to the bench with two fouls with 10 minutes to go, backup center Edward Alade slammed a dunk off a nice pass from Brandon Venturini to put the Mids ahead 14-12.

Colgate then reeled off an 8-0 run that saw back-to-back 3-pointers from Alex Ramon and Ethan Jacobs to get ahead 20-14. Navy's Smith broke the drought and hit two straight jumpers to cut the margin to two at 20-18.

However, Colgate's McMullen then hit a 3-pointer and two late free throws by Austin Tillotson sent Colgate to a 27-22 halftime lead.

Colgate opened the second half on a 9-2 run that saw Roh score five points with a three-point play to take a 10-point lead. Colgate then extended its lead to 13 when Roh converted yet another and-1 play.

Dulin then began to heat up for Navy and scored five-straight points to get Navy within eight at 43-35. After Ramon hit a 3-pointer and a layup, Dulin answered with a triple to cut the deficit back to 10.

Colgate began to pull away again, but a 3-pointer by Smith cut the lead to single digits at 51-42 with 7:53 left in the second half. McMullen made a layup and then a 3-pointer by Dulin in transition got the Mids within eight, but a bucket by Roh and two free throws by McMullen extended the lead to nine.

Dulin would get the Mids' deficit back to nine with a soft jumper but Sherman-Newsome answered right back on the other end. Dunbar drove in and finished a three-point play and then made a free throw to get the Mids within six at 61-55 with 1:22 remaining.

However, Navy couldn't score on its own end and Colgate continued to make its free throws to build its lead to as high as 12 points. Dunbar converted another three-point play with 25.8 seconds left and senior captain Kevin Alter made a late layup to set the final score at 72-62.

Colgate's last 12 points of the game came at the free throw line.

Colgate shot 53 percent from the floor, while Navy shot just 45 percent. Navy was just 4-of-14 from beyond the arc.

Dunbar was 6-of-9 from the floor and made five free throws for his 17 points, while Dulin was 5-of-7 from the floor, 2-of-3 on 3-pointers and made four free throws for his 16 points.

"I thought Bryce and Dunbar were very good tonight for us and they kept us in the game," said DeChellis. "Two guys that we will have back next year."

Navy increased its overall win total (13) for the third straight year and its eight conference wins (8-10) doubled its total from 2014. Navy tied for sixth place in the Patriot League this season and was just one game out of fourth place.

Thursday was the final game for Navy's four seniors: Smith, Venturini, Alter and Earl McLaurin.

"They came in when I came in four years ago," said DeChellis of his seniors. "They gave us great energy and great leadership and really helped turn our program around. I'm really thankful for Worth Smith, Brandon Venturini, Earl McLaurin and Kevin Alter."