Nov. 22, 2005
BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Sophomores Ben Nwachukwu (Enugu, Nigeria) and John Baumann (Westport, Conn.) combined for 37 points and 20 rebounds as Columbia defeated Long Island University 80-63 in Brooklyn, N.Y.
The Lions are now 3-0 on the season, while LIU dropped to 0-1.
LIU had no answer for Nwachukwu, who tied a career-high in points, giving him one more triumph to celebrate today, his 21st birthday. Baumann established new career-highs in points (18) and rebounds (13) as the sophomore posted his first collegiate double-double in the win.
With the game tied at 28-28 at 2:59 in the first, Baumann scored six consecutive, with LIU adding a bucket in between, to put Columbia up two with a minute to play in the half. Brett Loscalzo (Ridgefield, Conn.) fed Jason Miller (Hamilton, Ohio) for a layup to give the Lions a four-point lead at the break. The basket was Miller's first of his collegiate career.
LIU got two threes and a jumper early in the second period from James Williams, Kellen Allen and Randy Jones, to cut the Lions' lead to three, 41-38, with 16:32 on the clock, but Justin Armstrong (San Diego, Calif.) hit a three on the ensuing play to push the lead back out to six.
The Lions clicked and went on a 20-6 run that the Blackbirds had no answer for. Baumann and Nwachukwu traded baskets and LIU was forced to foul. Columbia went 11-of-12 from the Line in the final eight minutes of the game.
Baumann went 6-of-12, while Nwachukwu went 9-of-10 from the floor in the win. Armstrong finished with 13 points and Dalen Cuff (Palm Harbor, Fla.) added 10 to round out the double-digit scorers. Loscalzo and Kashif Sweet (Austin, Texas) scored eight and four points respectively, while each dishing out five assists.
The Lions were on fire from the floor, shooting a blistering 62.2 percent (28-45). The Lions held LIU to just 31.7 percent shooting and 26.9 percent from behind the arc. Columbia held the advantage on the boards, 41-25.
Williams and Jones led LIU with 13 points each.
The Lions return to action on Saturday, when they travel to Stony Brook for a 1 p.m. game.
