Columbia
HOFSTRA
Men's Basketball Tops Hofstra 82 -77
12/20/2014 9:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BOX SCORE (.html) | BOX SCORE (.pdf)
NEW YORK - Columbia shot 50 percent from the floor in the second half to defeat Hofstra 82-77 in Levien Gym on Saturday, December 20 in non-conference men's basketball action.
In a game that featured eight ties and eight lead changes, Columbia led for most of the tightly-contested first half until Hofstra closed out the period on a 10-4 run to give the Pride a 38-34 lead at the break.
The teams traded baskets in the first six minutes of the second half, but a steal and jumper by Maodo Lo gave the Lions a two-point lead at the 13:33 mark, and Columbia did not trail again.
Lo was nearly unstoppable for the Lions in the second half, scoring 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting, while hitting seven threes and adding a team-high seven rebounds.
Leading by three with 9:07 to play, Columbia went on a 14-7 run over seven minutes, incluing eight points by Lo, to take a 10-point lead, 73-63.
Hofstra battled back with an 8-0 run of their own to cut the lead to two, 73-71 with 2:15 remaining.
Kyle Castlin put back a missed Lo three to extend the lead to four. On the ensuing Hofstra possession, Castlin picked up a crucial rebound after three Pride misses, and subsequently hit two free throws to give the Lions a 77-71 lead.
Hofstra continued to battle, but solid free throw shooting by Steve Frankoski, Noah Springwater and Lo led to the 82-77 final.
Lo finished with a season-high 29 points (ties a career high). The Columbia bench also gave a big boost on the night outscoring the Pride 33-4, behind 14 points and four assists from Frankoski. Castlin finished with 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists and a steal. Luke Petrasek scored eight points with three rebounds, one assist and two blocks in 22 minutes of action.
The Lions out-rebounded Hofstra 41-35, shot 43.1 percent for the game to Hofstra's 40.7.
The Lions improve to 6-3, while Hofstra drops to 7-3.
