NEW YORK - Liam Murphy had a game-high 20 points including 6-of-10 shooting from three, but Columbia couldn't overcome a second half deficit to Sacred Heart, who won 79-69 on Monday night on Schiller Court at Levien Gymnasium.

After trailing by as many as eight in the first half, Columbia took a 33-32 lead into halftime.

While Sacred Heart (4-7) took a 34-33 lead to start the second half, Columbia (3-8) ripped off an 8-0 run over a span of 42 seconds. The back-to-back 3-pointers from Murphy put Columbia up 41-34 at the 18:24 mark, causing the Pioneers to call a timeout.

"We were playing the best stretch we played all year. We were scoring in transition better than we have all year. And then we were really being efficient offensively in the first half," head coach Jim Engles said. "We got down early, and when we came back we were able to find our footing. And we were at a point (in the second half) where I think we're ready to take control of the game and then after that timeout -- we just have to get better. We have to maintain our effort and focus on what we need to do. It's obviously disappointing. There's a lot of things in the game that were very good. And then the last 18 minutes (we got away) from what was working."

Then, Eddie Turner III picked up his third foul with 17:52, before Josh Odunowo picked up his third  with 13:53 to play and Columbia down 47-43.

Odunowo had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Lions, while Ike Nweke had 17 points and six rebounds in his second game back following a nine-game absence due to a lower leg injury.
"It was just a lot on the body at first being off for four and a half weeks," the big man said of his return. "It's hard to just come back in and just get in the swing of things. Had to shake the rust off and just get the body moving again."

Sacred Heart then went on a run of its own, a 27-4 outburst, putting the Lions in a 61-45 hole midway through the second half.

Murphy would hit a 3-pointer on three-straight possessions to cut it to 64-54 with 6:48 remaining.

Unfortunately, the Lions wouldn't get any closer than 10.

Columbia has 15 days before the next game due to final exams and the holidays. The Lions wrap up non-conference play against Maryland-Eastern Shore on December 28. Tip off is slated for 8 p.m. following the conclusion of the women's game against Hofstra.

"We've played a lot of games here in a short amount of time. We haven't had a lot of prep. So this is definitely needed. We need some time off from a mental and physical standpoint," Engles said. "And then we'll continue to adjust. We know what we need to do."

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Matt Sugam has been covering sports in the NYC Metropolitan area for over a decade. He has spent the last eight years covering college and professional sports as a stringer for the Associated Press, while also contributing to The New York Times, USA Today Network, NJ.com, and SNY.tv. He will be covering Lions Athletics for gocolumbialions.com while pursuing an M.S. in Strategic Communication at Columbia's School of Professional Studies. Follow him on Twitter @MattSugam