NEW YORK – Gabe Stefanini scored a game-high 26 points and Quinton Adlesh added a season-high 20 points off the bench as the Columbia men's basketball team claimed a 90-68 victory over Bryant Friday evening at Levien Gymnasium. The Lions used a 13-1 run and held the Bulldogs without a field goal for 6:18 in the second half to turn a five-point game into an 84-65 advantage with three and change to go.
 
"We've had some rough games here of late and we just needed to get a taste of going out and winning one," head coach Jim Engles said. "In the second half, we did a better job of trying to contest a little bit better. Not just being there, but actually contesting the shot. I thought the guys did a good job of coming together to try and play team defense."
 
Stefanini, who entered the game ranked No. 3 nationally in 3-point percentage, hit his first six field goals and first three 3-point shots. He converted on 10-of-13 from the floor, was 3-of-4 from downtown and added a career-best four steals. It was his third 20-point game of the year. Adlesh scored 17 after halftime and hit four 3-pointers in a row midway through the second half to help Columbia maintain its lead. He tied a career-high with six 3-pointers.
 
The Lions (2-6) scored a season-high 90 points, shot 58.6 percent and were 12-of-24 from beyond the arc.
 
After Bryant grabbed its first lead of the game, 44-43, on a jumper to start the second half, Columbia used a 9-0 run to take a 52-44 lead, it would not relinquish. Patrick Tapé converted a layup to put the Lions back in front for good and a Stefanini capped the run with a put-back to make it an eight-point ballgame.
 
A steal by Jake Killingsworth (12 points, six rebounds) led to a transition bucket by Stefanini, giving Columbia a 69-60 cushion with 7:34 to play. On the next possession, Stefanini scored on an up-and-under layup for an 11-point advantage. Then Adlesh hit a fadeaway 3-pointer with 5:28 to go. The Lions pushed their lead to as many as 21 points with an 8-0 spurt late in the game.
 
With pressure defense and sharp shooting, Columbia jumped out to an early lead. A 9-0 run keyed by two Killingsworth jumpers from the high post against the Bryant zone defense gave Columbia a commanding 21-9 early lead. The Lions pushed the margin to 13 points with 7:57 left in the first half, but six 3-pointers by Bryant in a six-minute span a brought the Bulldogs all the way back. The Bulldogs trailed by just one point at the half, 43-42, after Byron Hawkins drew a pair of free throws with 0.5 seconds left in the frame.
 
Bryant's (2-6) Adam Grant, who hit five 3-pointers, finished with 19 first-half points, but was held in check during the second half and finished with 23 on 6-of-14 shooting from 3-point range. Hawkins added 22 for the Bulldogs. Bryant shot just 38.3 percent from the floor (23-60).
 
The Lions return to action Sunday, December 9 against Iona at the Madison Square Garden Holiday Festival. Tip-off is set for 11 a.m. The game will also be broadcast live on FS1.
 
Tickets for upcoming home games at Levien Gymnasium can be purchased by clicking here or calling 888-LIONS-11.