Columbia University’s men’s basketball team began its Ivy League campaign with a 104-99 win over Cornell on Monday night at Newman Arena in Ithaca, New York. The Lions overcame a nine-point deficit in the second half to secure their twelfth victory of the season and improve to 1-0 in conference play.
Trailing 74-65 with just over ten minutes left, Columbia reduced the gap before Blair Thompson’s three-pointer and Kenny Noland’s fast break layup gave them a 78-76 lead with just over seven minutes remaining. A subsequent 10-0 run extended Columbia’s advantage to ten points at 88-78. Cornell narrowed the difference to four points late in the game, but Columbia maintained its composure to close out the win.
Senior guard Kenny Noland reached a career milestone during the contest, scoring his 1,000th point on a free throw with 34 seconds left. He is now the 31st player in program history to reach this mark and finished with 23 points for the game.
Blair Thompson led all scorers with a career-high 26 points. Hampton Sanders contributed all of his 17 points in the first half, converting every attempt from both the field and free throw line. Ryan Soulis added six rebounds and six assists, while Miles Franklin chipped in with 13 points and seven rebounds.
Columbia started quickly, building an early lead before Cornell responded with two separate seven-point runs in the first half. The teams were tied at halftime after Sanders hit a three-pointer just before the buzzer. Columbia shot nearly 67 percent from the field and was perfect from the free throw line during that opening period.
A cold start to the second half put Columbia behind by seven before they rallied for the win.
Columbia will return home for its next Ivy League matchup against Harvard on Saturday at Schiller Court in Levien Gymnasium. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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