FARMINGTON — It’s hard to find a flaw in the Colby College men’s basketball team right now. Tuesday night’s 92-76 victory at the University of Maine at Farmington improved the Mules to 7-1, and they won in a signature manner: balanced scoring, 3-point accuracy and stingy defense.
“It’s been a real fun team to coach because guys are playing within themselves and playing off one another. It gives us a chance to be hard to guard,” Coach Damien Strahorn said.
The success is a product of a strong preseason, guard Sam Jefferson said.
“We knew we had some talent and we’ve been grinding like we haven’t in the past,” said Jefferson, who scored 22 points and made five of Colby’s 15 3-pointers. “The games feel easier than what we did in the fall.”
Facing a primarily zone defense for the first time, the Mules were hot from the perimeter early. Colby’s first three field goals were 3s, and the Mules sank 10 in the first half to take a 49-32 lead into the break.
“We got some good movement with the ball and made some shots early,” Strahorn said. “Coming out at halftime, we knew they’d make a run. I thought we could have executed a little better at both ends in the second half.”
Colby led 61-37 with just under 17 minutes to play when the Beavers (4-2) went on a run.
Farmington trimmed its deficit to 77-66 on an Amir Moss layup with 4:53 remaining, but that was as close as it would get.
Colby closed the game with a 15-10 run.
“We got a couple stops and made a couple baskets. The frustration of trying to catch them was difficult,” Farmington Coach Dick Meader said.
“To close out and get that deep makes it very difficult, especially trying to protect the lane and driving the ball.”
When Jefferson wasn’t open or cold, Matt Hanna (23 points) was there to make one of his five 3-pointers. If it wasn’t Hanna, it was Noah Tyson (16 points, 13 rebounds), who made three of his four 3-pointers in the second half.
“This year I’ve been getting more open looks than I ever have because those guys can shoot just as well,” Jefferson said.
Reserve Sean Gilmore gave the Mules offense in the low post, scoring 12 of his 16 points in the second half.
Gilmore also had 10 boards, including four offensive.
“We took their shot and withstood it. It wasn’t the prettiest but it gives us something we can keep focusing on,” Strahorn said.
Moss scored a game-high 26 points for Farmington. Milani Hicks added 13 points, and Bill Ruby and Riley Robinson each scored 12.
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