Stony Brook

76

66

Columbia

 Box Score 

NEW YORK –  Stony Brook erupted in the second half to turn a 10-point halftime deficit into a 76-66 victory over the Columbia men’s basketball team Thursday night. The Seawolves (4-6) were led by Akwasi Yeboah, who finished with 30 points on 9-of-12 shooting and eight rebounds.

The rest of Stony Brook shot just 16-of-45 (35.5 percent) from the floor, however, the Seawolves converted on 21-of-28 free throws. Columbia shot 52.0 percent in the opening stanza, but went cold in the second half and shot just 25.8 percent. After a 31.2 percent first half from the floor, the Seawolves knocked down 55.2 percent after the intermission

Mike Smith, who came into the night the Ivy League leader in assists, dished out a career-best eight dimes to go with 18 points and five steals (also a new personal-best). Lukas Meisner was the only other Lion (1-8) to score in double figures with 15, but battled foul trouble for much of the way.

Columbia netted the first nine points, thanks to triples from Smith and Meisner, and led 14-5 after a personal 5-0 spurt by Meisner with 15:55 left in the first half. Stony Brook stayed in the game thanks to strong shooting from the charity stripe and forcing turnovers. After Yeboah knocked down a pair from the foul line to make it 25-23 before Myles Hanson provided a spark off the bench.

With Meisner sitting with two fouls, the Minnesota native sparked a 7-2 outburst with five points as the Lions extended the advantage to seven after a Smith free throw. Yeboah scored the next four before a barrage of treys by Columbia put the Lions in front, 41-31, at the break.

The Seawolves quickly pulled within two with an 8-0 run in just over two minutes and took their first lead of the night, 46-45, on an Elijah Olaniyi layup with 14:56 to play. The Lions were held to one field goal in a 5:25 span but buckled back down on defense to not let the game slip away. Gabe Stefanini’s triple in transition put Columbia back in front, 50-48, before another stretch of nearly five minutes without a basket.

This time Stony Brook took advantage with Jaron Cornish scoring six of his 11 points during an 11-0 run, giving the Seawolves a 60-51 cushion at the 5:45 mark. Still trailing by nine at the final media timeout, the Lions made one last push. Nate Hickman hit 1-of-2 from the foul line, but regained possession during the fight for the rebound and Mike Smith turned it into a 3-point play with a layup. Quinton Adlesh proceeded to intercept the inbounds pass and Meisner converted on a layup to trim the margin to 68-64 just 13 seconds later.

The teams traded buckets the next two trips down the floor and Stony Brook left the door open a crack by hitting just 1-of-2 from the line, but Columbia could not break the ice as the Seawolves took the victory.

The Lions rejected a season-high 10 shots, with Jaron Faulds registering a career-best four blocks. Stony Brook won the battle of the glass with a 42-30 edge in rebounds.

Next up for Columbia, a Sunday matchup with Navy this Sunday, December 10 at 1 p.m. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by visiting gocolumbialions.com/tickets or calling 888-LIONS-11.

The game can be seen live on SNY with a video simulcast and free audio via the Ivy League Network.

POSTGAME TIP-INS
- Columbia fell to 7-13 all-time against Stony Brook.
- Randy Brumant made his collegiate debut and logged five minutes in the first half.
- Myles Hansons’ eight points established a new career-high.
- Mike Smith has recorded double-figure points in 19 consecutive games.