FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Tyler Nelson's free throws with 12 seconds remaining in overtime gave Fairfield an 82-81 victory over the Columbia men's basketball team Friday. The game featured 20 lead changes and 16 tie scores.
Trailing by four late in the extra frame Alex Rosenberg drained a 3-pointer from the left corner and Grant Mullins found Luke Petrasek for a slam with 26 seconds remaining to give the Lions (3-3) an 81-80 advantage.
On the next possession, Nelson leaned in to Maodo Lo while off-balance to draw a whistle and knocked down both attempts.
Columbia raced the ball up the floor and Lo had an open look from the top of the key, but his shot hit the back of the rim and out as time expired.
After a back-and-forth second half, the score was deadlocked at 69-69 with 1:59 left in regulation. The Stags used a free throw and an alley-oop dunk by Jonathan Kasibabu to take three-point lead with 16 seconds to play.
The Lions forced the extra session on a Mullins 3-pointer from the left win with 5.5 seconds on the clock. Fairfield tried to win it in regulation, but could not get a shot off before the horn.
The Stags played exclusively zone the entire way, switching from 2-3 to 1-3-1 and held Columbia to just 32.3 percent shooting in the first half.
Despite the slow start shooting, Lo connected on a trio from downtown in a span of just 1:33 to give the Lions its largest lead of the half, 20-16, at the 9:30 mark. Fairfield responded with three-straight triples of its own to regain a five-point cushion with 5:33 before the half.
Mullins capped a 7-0 run to set up a back-and-forth final 2:30 which saw four lead changes. Marcus Gilbert canned his fourth and final 3-pointer of the period with a trifecta from the right wing with five seconds remaining to give the Stags a 36-33 lead heading into the break.
28-14 on the boards and 10 offensive rebounds, but unable to capitalize with just three second chance points.
Lo finished with a team high 23 points and six rebounds. Rosenberg and Mullins added 18 apiece. Isaac Cohen pulled down nine rebounds.
Columbia grabbed 15 offensive rebounds, but finished with only 11 second-chance points.
Gilbert finished 5-of-7 from downtown and had a game-high 33 points.
The Lions complete the second half of their back-to-back against Longwood at 7 p.m. in Levien Gym. Tickets are still available and can be purchased here. Fans can also tune in to the Ivy League Digital Network for live video and audio.
