Springfield, Massachusetts - Big-time players make big-time plays. Thank goodness Max Poulton is a Mule because facing him today would've been a nightmare. Colby survived a shootout in their second double-header game against Penn State Altoona behind Poulton's 31 points. After going into the half tied, the Mules beat the Nittany Lions, 78-77, taking their record to 4-1 overall.

Colby led from the tip and didn't give it up the whole first half. Poulton had an incredible start to the game, scoring 14 of Colby's first 22 points. The Junior knocked down four of seven threes, helping his team to shoot 44% from beyond the arc. The Mules spread the floor as Jack Lawson helped out in the paint with eight points. With two minutes to go, Sam Hinman made a three to give Colby a 5-point lead, but a late run from the Nittany Lions drew them level, 50-50, to end the half.

Coming out of the break, Poulton continued to stay hot. Defensively, he tallied three rebounds and two steals–the first coming in Colby's first defensive possession and another in the last minute of the game. Poulton made another three shots from the three-point line en route to 15 second-half points–more than half of Colby's 28. The Mules tied their biggest lead of the half, seven, with three minutes to go and held on to their slim lead until the buzzer. Lawson and Savion Stroud made two crucial free throws each to secure a hard-fought victory over a team that wouldn't go away.

The Mules are in action against Salve Regina in Newport, Rhode Island this Tuesday.