Columbia University
UMBC
Lions Fall in Tyler Ugolyn Columbia Classic Championship to UMBC, 66-52
11/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
NEW YORK -- The Columbia University men's basketball team played hard and fought valiantly but could not overcome a poor shooting night as it fell to UMBC, 66-52, in the championship game of the Tyler Ugolyn Columbia Classic on Saturday night at Levien Gym.
Senior Joe Bova and junior Niko Scott each had 11 points off the bench for the Lions (2-2), who shot just 27.4 percent from the floor for the contest. Bova and junior Patrick Foley, who had 20 points in Columbia's victory over Bryant on Friday, were named to the all-tournament team. UMBC's Jay Greene had a game-high 22 points in route to tournament MVP honors.
Both teams started off slow, with the first points being scored two minutes into the game. K.J. Matsui hit a three-pointer to open scoring for Columbia moments later, but jumper by Justin Fry gave UMBC a lead it would not relinquish.
The Lions looked like they would make a run at the three-minute mark when Matsui hit a three to cut the lead to seven, 54-47, but a layup by Darryl Proctor seconds later extended the lead back out to nine and Columbia's shooting woes continued as two missed shots later the Retrievers boasted a 12-point advantage.
UMBC shot 39 percent from the floor in the first half to Columbia's 26.9. Green led the Retrievers with 22 points, 6 rebounds and hit an impressive 10 for 12 from the line.
The Lions (2-2) return to action on Tuesday when they host Albany for a 7 p.m. game.
