Colgate University Athletics

HAMILTON, N.Y. (11/12/09) – The Colgate men's basketball team will open its 2009-10 season tonight with an exhibition game against the Medaille College Mavericks, tip-off is for 7 p.m. at Cotterell Court.

This season the Raiders look to return to the Patriot League Championship game with the return eight players from last years squad, including five starters. Colgate is also pleased to welcome back senior Kyle Roemer (Martinez, Calif.), a three-year starter who missed all of last season to injury.

Roemer’s return brings a lot of experience to a young team. Roemer the 2007-08 team captain led the Raiders in scoring averaging 16.2 points per game. That season Roemer was named second team all-Patriot League and to the Patriot League All-Tournament team after scoring 74 points in three games - two short of the tournament record.

Joining Roemer is talented sophomore Yaw Gyawu (Lilburn, Ga.) who in his rookie season, played in all 30 games with 15 starting assignments for the Raiders and was named to the 2009 Patriot League men’s basketball all-rookie team. He was the top rookie scorer in league games with 12.3 points per game. In overall scoring, he averaged 10.2 points per game, third best on the team.
 
Also returning from last season’s squad are captains Mike Venezia (Westfield, N.J.) and Ben Jonson (Dallas, Texas). Venezia led the team in scoring averaging 10.8 points per game and was given a share of the team’s most valuable player award with Gyawu. Jonson the most improved player for Colgate last season was second in scoring and rebounding averaging, 10.4 and 5.3, respectively.

The 2009-10 Medaille Mavericks come into the season looking to improve upon a First Round NCAA Tournament appearance last season.  With seven returning players who averaged over ten minutes of action last season, including five seniors and two all conference selections, this years team has a wealth of experience. 

The Raiders begin regular season play on Monday, Nov. 16 at the 2009 Dicks Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off against Connecticut, the game will be televised on ESPNU at 9 p.m.