WATERVILLE, Me. – Despite leading by 12 points mid-way through the second half, a late offensive push from Colby College sent the game into overtime and led the Mules to defeat the Amherst College men's basketball team 76-70 in the Harold Alfond Athletic Center Friday night.

Amherst dropped to 10-9 overall and 1-4 in the NESCAC, while Colby improved to 13-6 and 4-1 in the conference. The Mammoths will head to Brunswick to face Bowdoin on Saturday, where they'll face the Polar Bears at 3 p.m. in the Morrell Gymnasium.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

*The Mammoths blasted off to an early 13-6 lead in the opening five minutes, highlighted by a three-pointer each from senior C.J. Mitchell and junior Chris Hammond, alongside an emphatic dunk from senior Will Scherer.

*Senior Bobby Sommers followed up two minutes later with a turnaround jumper in the paint, netting his first bucket of the night. With 11:43 to play, junior Giovanni Tam added two more with a left-handed floater in front of the rim to take the Mammoths up 17-9.

*After back-to-back three-pointers from Colby sophomore Sam Hinman cut Amherst's lead to 19-17, Sommers responded with a 5-point effort bookended by a three-pointer fed by Hammond and a dunk assisted by Scherer.

*A 10-0 run from Colby regained the lead for the Mules at 27-26 with 4:44 to play, but the Mammoths quickly responded with a 9-point rally of their own lead by Scherer. The center netted a layup, converted a free throw, and slammed a dunk to help the Mammoths to a 35-30 lead at the close of the first half.

*The second half started with a back-and-forth affair as both teams traded free throws. Sommers and senior Ryker Vance notched a layup each to give Amherst a 13-point lead at 52-39 and 13:42 remaining.

*The Mules fought back with a 20-8 rally in the next 10 minutes, making it a 1-point game at 60-59 and 3:41 to play. As turnovers stalled Amherst's momentum, a strong 7-point effort from Mules sophomore Marcos Montiel helped Colby weaken Amherst's advantage.

*A final three-pointer with 21 seconds remaining clinched the equalizer for the Mules and extended the game to overtime.

*Missed shots from the Mammoths kept Amherst scoreless at the start of overtime as Colby gained a 4-point lead with two layups. Sommers ended Amherst's scoring drought with two free throws at 2:25 remaining, while a steal and a quick layup from sophomore Marc Garraud tied the game 69-69 with 1:56 to play.

*Four successful free throws put Colby ahead of the Mammoths by 6 in the final minute, crushing the Mammoths' momentum and ending the game 76-70.

BY THE NUMBERS:

*Colby held an advantage in all shooting metrics, netting 40.6% (26-64) of field goals compared to 38.4% (28-73), 30.8% of three-pointers compared to 18.5%, and 70.6% of free throws compared to 64.3% from Amherst.

*Sommers led as the game's top scorer with 20 points. Scherer was the only player between both teams to score a double-double, earning 15 points for the Mammoths and making 12 rebounds. The center also contributed 5 blocks and 1 steal.