Brunswick, Maine - Swept. Past tense. An action defined in the dictionary as "clean an area by brushing away dirt or litter". In the sports world, the word refers to one team winning all of the games in a series. When we combine the two, we get what happened last night; for the second year running, Colby men's basketball has swept Bowdoin. Free of "dirt or litter", the Mules handled business in a dominant second half en route to an 86-73 win. Colby is now 9-9 overall and 1-4 in NESCAC conference play. 

Neither team wanted to run away with this one early on. Constant lead changes and turnovers kept the game close. Colby's largest lead of the half came from a jumper by Marcos Montiel, giving them a four-point lead. The Mules equaled their four point lead later on in the half when Liam O'Connell knocked down a three. From then on Bowdoin took control, coming back and even going up by as much as nine until three's from Montiel and Savion Stroud brought Colby within two to end the half 36-34. 

Coming out of the break something switched. Another three from Montiel ensured the Mules led the entire length of the half. Bowdoin ended up drawing within one minutes later but consistent three point shooting quickly allowed Colby to break away. Sam Hinman had a big half, knocking down two big threes and shooting 50%, while the rest of the team shot a staggering 46%. Montiel led the scoring for both teams in the game, and in the half, putting up 11 in the latter half en route to 21 points. O'Connell continued his hot streak, contributing 14 with nine coming in the second half. O'Connell went 5 for 6 from the free throw line this half–the team shot 80% in the second and 75% in the game.
Another game without Jack Lawson posed no problem for the Mules as the squad as a whole continues to step up. Colby travels down to New London, Connecticut next Sunday to face Connecticut College in another crucial NESCAC affair. The Mules hope to ride their momentum from two back to back energetic wins and grab a needed conference victory.