NEWARK, Del. – The Columbia men's basketball team clawed its way back after trailing by as many as 18 in the second half, pulling within four, before Delaware closed out an 84-76 victory Monday night. Mike Smith eclipsed the 20-point mark for the fifth consecutive game, finishing with a game-high 26 points to go with nine rebounds, seven assists and three steals.
 
Jack Forrest posted 17 points off the bench on 7-of-9 shooting, including a 3-of-3 clip from beyond the arc. Ike Nweke finished with 12 points for the Lions (3-6).
 
The Blue Hens (9-0) started the game 5-for-5, including four 3-pointers to go in front 14-4 with 16:41 left in the period. A pullup jumper from Maka Ellis pulled the Lions within seven at the 13:52 mark, but could not creep any closer. Nate Darling spotted up from the left corner to bring the Delaware cushion back up to 32-20 with 9:39 to go before a Jake Killingsworth triple cut the deficit back into single-digits just over two minutes later.
 
After the Blue Hens answered with a bucket on the next possession, both teams went without a field goal for over five minutes of action to give Delaware a 42-29 lead going into halftime.
 
Delaware started the second half with a pair of 3-pointers and looked like it was going to run away with things, going ahead 61-43 after Jacob Cushing buried a triple with 14:07 to play, before Smith took over.
 
The senior scored seven points, including a transition trey to bring the Lions within 61-52. Killingsworth knocked down a big shot from beyond the arc to make it a six-point game and after defensive stop, Smith drove into the lane for a layup to make it 65-61 with 8:54 to play.
 
After the teams traded buckets over the next six possessions, the Blue Hens finally pulled away with six unanswered to push the margin back up to 78-68. Columbia knocked down a pair of 3-pointers to stay in the game, but Delaware went 6-for-6 from the foul line to ice the game.
 
Justyn Mutts led five Blue Hens in double-figures with 24 points and 15 rebounds. Ryan Allen added 20 points on 6-of-12 shooting.
 
Delaware shot 53.7 percent for the game and was 9-of-20 from beyond the arc. Columbia shot 52.8 percent in the second half and 45.3 percent on the night.
 
The Lions are back in action Friday, December 6, against Bryant. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. in Providence. The game is set to be aired on NEC Front Row.
 
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.