Box Score (PDF)

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel men's basketball team opened play at the Holy City Hoops Classic with a 108-101 win over Colgate on Friday afternoon, improving to 4-0 at home this season.
 
The Bulldogs (5-3) started the game with back-to-back threes by Quayson Williams and Brian White, allowing them to jump out to a quick six-point advantage.
 
With 16:06 remaining, the Raiders took the lead and maintained control until the eight minute mark when Kaelon Harris took a charge and then on the ensuing possession Leandro Allende hit a three-pointer to regain the lead. White caught fire after the lead change, hitting back-to-back-to-back treys to make the score 36-30 with 5:42 remaining in the half.
 
The Citadel controlled the tempo of the game from then on out and with 3:45 remaining Ezekiel Balogun hit a three-pointer to make it a 44-37 game and then followed with a monster block on Colgate's next shot attempt.  
 
White's fifth three-pointer in the half came with less than two minutes remaining and then Allende followed with one of his own to push the lead to eight. On the shot by Allende, Najdawi got fouled and sank both free throws to make the score 54-44. Colgate was able to hit one three-pointer before the half but the 'Dogs still held onto a 54-47 lead heading into the halftime break.
 
Najdawi opened the half with four points in the first two minutes, hitting back-to-back layups to make it 58-49. Following the layups by Najdawi, the Bulldogs went on a 15-2 run to push their lead to 18 with 11:45 left to play.
 
The Citadel sealed the game with clutch free throw shooting down the stretch, sinking 14-of-16 from the charity stripe in the last five minutes to clinch the 108-101 win.
 
Sophomores Najdawi and Williams continued their stellar play for the 'Dogs, combining for 48 points in the game. Najdawi dropped a career-high 30 points, finished one rebound shy of a double-double, recorded his team-leading fifth 20-point game this season and finished 16-of-17 from the free throw line. Williams chipped in 18 points on four-of-nine shooting from three-point land and dished out six assists.
 
White also had an impressive outing, draining six three-pointers, three of which game in a two minute span, and grabbing three rebounds. Frankie Johnson, Balogun and Allende all finished with nine points as The Citadel combined to make 16 treys in the contest and shoot 50 percent from the field for the third consecutive game.
 
The Bulldogs are back in action Saturday when they face USC Upstate at noon. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 with live stats available at CitadelSports.com. For tickets, visit CitadelSports.com/tickets.
 
For more information on The Citadel basketball, follow @CitadelHoops or visit CitadelSports.com.