Waterville, Maine - The late Kobe Bryant once said, "If you see me in a fight with a bear, pray for the bear." If you ever see Marcos Montiel with the ball in the final seconds of the game, pray for the other team. Montiel called game with a go-ahead layup and punched the ball away for the game-winning steal, giving Colby the win 82-81. The Mules played with an energy today that hasn't been seen in a while, taking them to 8-9 on the season while Husson drops to 14-3. 

Colby came out with energy, pressing Husson from the whistle. Liam O'Connell gave the Mules an early lead, knocking down a three and a field goal from deep while Stewart added a triple. Defensively it was a whole new look. The press caused Husson to slow down and kill their momentum while a zone stuffed the paint forcing Husson to spread the floor. However, early turnovers kept the Eagles in the game, eventually taking the lead for the first time seven minutes in. 

Husson led 17-10 until a three from Max Poulton brought Colby within two possessions. A steal from Poulton on the consecutive play and a behind-the-back dribble on the breakaway sent his defender looking into the bleachers while Poulton converted the layup. Defensive resiliency continued following a charge call on Green–Stewart converted on the other end with a go-ahead three-pointer. Stewart grabbed his third triple of the half a minute later to extend Colby's lead to two. Savion Stroud checked in with immediate impact, tallying a steal and a tough finish through a crowd for two points. Stroud had the play of the half right after with a huge block on Husson point guard Riles Neff. A late run from the Eagles with two minutes to go stretched their lead to seven and gave them the edge heading into the half, 36-43. 

The second half is where it has mattered and often capitulated for the Mules all season whether leading or trailing. Coming out of the break the trend continued as Husson quickly found a solution to the zone, getting the ball to the nail and either dumping it low or kicking it out for three. The Mules had brief moments early on–Stewart and O'Connell added another three to their tallies–but Husson maintained their double-digit lead. Turnovers were Colby's bane, usually averaging 14 per game, they had 14 in the first half and midway through the second combined.

Halfway through the second, O'Connell and Stewart were on fire again from beyond the arc, drawing Colby within eight for the first time since the break. Poulton added to the momentum with a heavily contested three, drawing the foul and converting the resulting free throw. The Mules drew back within 6 and went back into their press, immediately forcing a steal. Sam Hinman added his second three of the game and Poulton converted his fourth to draw Colby within one. The momentum continued for Colby later on as Poulton drew Husson's seventh team foul, taking the Mules into bonus down four. 

The last seven minutes were a battle. Husson extended their lead to ten but a steal from Stroud led to yet another three-pointer by O'Connell. Stroud continued to have a career game, forcing yet another turnover leading to a massive dunk from Stewart and pulling Colby within one. Their 9-1 run continued as Poulton hit a go-ahead three-pointer in traffic to give the Mules the lead. From then on both teams went back and forth sharing responsibilities with the lead. Poulton came up clutch yet again, giving Colby the lead with a minute and a half to go after making both one-and-one free throws. However, the same situation on the opposite end put Colby down by one with thirty seconds to go. On the final possession for the Mules, Montiel converted a tough layup and got the game-winning steal as Colby hung on. 

With no Jack Lawson starting tonight, David Stewart got the nod averaging only 11 minutes per game. Stewart put on a show with five three's en route to 19 points. Poulton also had five from beyond the arc, grabbing 24 points and nine rebounds–a team high for both. Liam O'Connell shot the lights out from three as well, going 5 for 6(83.3%). In the end it was an all-round great win. Stewart and Stroud stepped up when needed, capping off a brilliant team effort. The energy and guile that has been lacking in the latter half of the game came out in abundance today as the Mules looked like a whole new team.
Colby looks to ride their momentum this Saturday as they travel to in-state rivals Bowdoin for another NESCAC conference showdown.