NEW YORK – Senior Mike Smith scored a game and season-high 30 points as the Columbia men's basketball team claimed a hard-fought 68-64 home win over Lehigh Saturday at Levien Gymnasium.
 
The Ivy League's second-leading scorer upon entering the game, Smith scored Columbia's final eight points and 12 of its final 18 points over the game's final nine minutes. He registered his third career 30-point game and fourth straight 20-point contest. He also registered a game-high six assists in 38 minutes of action.
 
With the score tied at 58-58, Randy Brumant converted a jumper in the lane to give the Lions a 60-58 lead. On its next possession, Smith followed with a clutch 3-pointer at the top of the key for a five-point lead with 5:40 to play. After Lehigh turned the ball over on a shot clock violation, Smith's layup gave Columbia a 65-58 edge with 3:13 to go.
 
But Lehigh wasn't finished as Jeameril Wilson hit a layup and James Karnik converted a turnaround jumper to cut the deficit to 65-62 with 2:05 to play. After a Lions turnover, the Mountain Hawks had the ball with 35 seconds to play. Joseph Cohen drove to the basket and was whistled for a charge, drawn by Brumant. Smith was fouled and knocked down pair from the foul line to give Columbia a 67-62 advantage with 24 seconds to go. Smith added another free throw with nine seconds left to seal the win.
 
The back-and-forth contest was played mostly in the half court as the teams combined for just three fast break points and nine lead changes. Columbia hit 47.3 percent (26-of-55) of its field goals and 40.9 percent (9-of-22) of its 3-pointers, while Lehigh countered with 46.8 percent (29-of-62) shooting and hit only 5-of-19 3-point field goals.
 
Trailing 19-11, the Lions battled back with five consecutive field goals and outscored Lehigh 13-2 over a three-minute span. Smith started the rally with a jumper, then drove into the paint and pulled up for another basket, then Jack Forrest swished another 3-pointer. Two possessions later, Maka Ellis and Luke Bolster drained back-to-back triples to give gave Columbia its first lead, 24-21, with 7:15 to go in the first half. Moments later, a Killingsworth 3-pointer extended Columbia's lead to 27-23, but Lehigh's Jordan Cohen converted a jumper and then a three-point to tie the game 32-32 at halftime.
 
Cohen led Lehigh with 20 points and Karnik finished with eight points and 12 rebounds. Forrest added 10 points for Columbia.
 
With the win, Columbia improves to 2-0 at home.
 
The Lions will hit the road to take on Delaware, Monday, December 2, for a 7 p.m. contest. The game will be aired live on
 
Tickets for upcoming home games be purchased by visiting gocolumbialions.com/tickets or calling 888-LIONS-11. Fans who cannot make the contest, can watch the action live on ESPN+.

For the latest on the Columbia men's basketball, follow @CULionsMBB on Twitter and Instagram, and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.