NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Yale's Azar Swain put on a show, recording a career-high 37 points to lift the Bulldogs to an 83-72 victory over the Columbia men's basketball team Tuesday evening. The Lions (4-13, 1-4) fell behind by 18 early, and despite playing a strong second half, could never recover.
 
Senior Ike Nweke led Columbia with 21 points, 19 coming after the intermission, to go with nine rebounds. Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa played the whole way and added 16 points, five assists and four steals. Patrick Harding grabbed a game-high 11 boards to go with six points.
 
Swain was drilling step back, contested shots to early give Yale (9-9, 3-1) a 20-2 lead with 13:02 remaining in the period. The Lions settled in offensively and pulled within 10 after back-to-back buckets from Patrick Harding at the 8:46 mark, but that would be as close as they would come. Swain capped a 10-0 Yale run with consecutive triples to extend the margin to 35-15 and the Bulldogs lead, 46-28, at the break.
 
The Lions featured Nweke early and often in the second stanza, but each time they tried to make a run Yale had an answer. A long 3 by Rubio De La Rosa from the right wing brought the score to 70-58 at the 6:24 mark. However, Columbia could not string together enough stops to close the gap any further.
 
Swain finished 14-of-20 from the field and 6-of 8 from beyond the arc. Jalen Gabbidon added 20 points for the Bulldogs.
 
The Lions open up a three-game homestand on Saturday, January 29, when they host Dartmouth. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. Columbia University currently has a limited spectator attendance policy for athletics events. A limited number of guests of the student-athletes and coaches will be allowed on a pass list. More information can be found here. Fans can watch the game live on ESPN+.
 
For the latest on the Columbia men's basketball, follow @CULionsMBB on Twitter and Instagram, and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.