Columbia
Stony Brook
Stony Brook Comes Back to Knock Off Men's Basketball, 63-60
12/5/2009 3:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
STONY BROOK, N.Y. -- Columbia had its chances to either tie or go ahead late in the game but the Lions fell just short in a 63-60 setback at Stony Brook on Saturday at Pritchard Gym.
Chris Martin scored a game-high 18 points for Stony Brook, and hit 10 of 11 at the foul line to lead the Seawolves, who led 20-14 at the nine-minute mark, but Columbia used tight defense to storm back at the end of the first half.
The Lions tied the score at 31 on a John Daniels layup at the two-minute mark and made three straight defensive stops before Niko Scott drilled a three-pointer with 36 seconds left on great ball movement around the perimeter to put Columbia ahead, 34-31 at halftime.
Columbia started out strong again in the second half, and went on a 14-3 run early in the second half, sparked by balanced scoring by each of the five Lion players on the court. The Lions eventually took their biggest lead of the game, 50-38, with 14 minutes remaining.
The Lions still led by six, 54-48, after two free throws by Kevin Bulger at the 8:43 mark. But back-to-back treys by Stony Brook big man Danny Carter tied the game at 54.
Noruwa Agho hit a pull-up jumper to put Columbia back up by a deuce, but Stony Brook answered with six straight points over a three-minute span in which Columbia came up empty in four attempts at the foul line.
Columbia still trailed by two, 62-60, after a layup and a steal on the other end by Asenso Ampim with 20 seconds left but the Lions came up empty on the offensive end in the final seconds.
Agho and Scott each had 12 for Columbia, while Patrick Foley added 11 points, four rebounds and three assists. Daniels had a strong game underneath with six points and nine rebounds and Brian Grimes also had seven points and eight rebounds.
The Lions are back in action on Tuesday, December 8 at Wagner at 7 p.m. in the second game of a doubleheader with the Columbia women facing Wagner in the opener in Staten Island.
NOTES:
- Patrick Foley had a blocked shot in the third straight game.
- Hall of Fame coach Lou Carnesecca was courtside at Pritchard Gym.
- Stony Brook outrebounded Columbia, 14-9, on the offensive glass.
