Coming into the game with momentum from a close victory over Lehigh at home, the Columbia men’s basketball team had a chance to win its first away game of the season at Stony Brook on Saturday. Despite leading 34-31 at the half, the Lions (3-4) were once again doomed as their opponents went on a late-game run, as the Seawolves (6-2) closed out the game with a 25-10 spurt, earning a 63-60 victory.
The second half started out well for the Light Blue, as it outscored Stony Brook 16-7 in the first six minutes to take a 12-point lead. Senior guard Niko Scott sparked the run with a jumper and scored seven of his 12 points during that six-minute span.
Scott, who had struggled with his shooting in the early part of the season, went 4-for-6 from the field against the Seawolves.
“I get my shots a lot out of the motion of the offense,” he said. “So as long as we’re working together as a team, I feel like I can open up, and I can help this team with my shooting ability.”
Stony Brook responded with a 16-4 run of its own, tying the game at 54 with back-to-back 3-pointers by sophomore forward Danny Carter. A jumper by sophomore guard Noruwa Agho put the Lions up 56-54 with 6:07 left to play—Columbia’s last lead in the game.
The Light Blue did have chances to take the lead again, but it was unable to capitalize on these opportunities. Down 58-56, junior forwards Brian Grimes and Asenso Ampim both went to the line but were unable to convert any of their four free throws.
“If you’re in enough games you know that sometimes they go in, sometimes they don’t,” Columbia head coach Joe Jones said. “We just didn’t make them tonight. Hopefully in the next game—if we get into that situation—we make them.”
A lay-up by senior guard Patrick Foley brought the Lions within two with 11 seconds to play, but after Stony Brook’s sophomore guard Bryan Dougher missed his first free throw on a one-and-one, Columbia was unable to execute on its final possession of the game.
Though there were a couple of questionable calls during the Seawolves’ comeback, Jones thought the loss was more the result of the Lions’ struggle to close games out.
“I thought there was some tough calls down in that stretch,” Jones said. “But that’s what’s going to happen on the road. We just didn’t go in and make the plays down the stretch.”
Foley, who finished the game with 11 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a block, also commented on the difficulty the Light Blue has been having late in the game.
“It’s definitely something we got to work on,” he said. “We just got to learn how to keep our defensive intensity up, stay executing, get good contributions from our second team, and just, kind of, maintain the intensity.”
After turning the ball over only twice in the first half, Columbia had eight turnovers in the second half. Stony Brook was able to take advantage, scoring 10 points off Light Blue turnovers after intermission.
The Lions also struggled on the boards throughout the game, as the Seawolves out-rebounded them 41-35 and pulled down 14 offensive boards to Columbia’s nine. Those 14 offensive rebounds gave Stony Brook 11 second-chance points, while Columbia only had six.
One thing the Light Blue can take away from this game is the strong play of freshman forward John Daniels. Daniels finished the game with a team-high nine rebounds.
“He’s so tenacious—he plays so hard,” Jones said. “He’s just a very, very good player, and he’s just going to get better and better.”
Agho also had a good game, tying Scott for a team-high 12 points while also posting three rebounds and an assist.
The Lions will have another chance to win their first road game when they face off against Wagner on Tuesday. Despite their difficulties on the road this year, particularly in the second half, Jones is certain his team will get better at closing games out.
“I have all the confidence in the world in my guys,” Jones said. “I know next time we’re in that situation, we’ll make the right plays.”
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