Nov. 17, 2006

Box Score

NEW YORK - Ben Nwachukwu scored all of his team-high 14 points in the second half, including 10-for-11 shooting at the foul line, as host Columbia toughed out a 73-60 win over New Jersey Institute of Technology Friday night in the opening round of the third annual Tyler Ugolyn Columbia Classic men's basketball tournament.

The result left both teams with 2-1 records and Columbia advances to face Kennesaw State in Saturday's championship game, while NJIT will take on Saint Peter's for third place in a 5 pm start on Saturday.

In addition to Nwachukwu, Columbia got 14 points and a game-high 9 rebounds from John Baumann and Patrick Foley came off the bench for 12 points and 5 assists in 19 minutes. Foley shared the game assists lead with teammate Kevin Bulger.

NJIT junior Kraig Peters led all scorers with 16 points, 12 coming on four made three-point baskets and Clayton Barker added 14 points, scoring them all after the intermission. Sophomore Nesho Milosevic led the Highlanders in rebounding, with 8 boards, plus a game-best 3 blocked shots. Dan Stonkus added 7 rebounds for NJIT.

The Lions never trailed after breaking a 9-9 tie on Jason Miller's layup with 10:49 left in the first half, but NJIT hung close, always answering Columbia's bids to open a bigger lead until late in the second half. Columbia held a 29-25 lead at the half, paced by Baumann, who had 6 points and was one of four Lions with at least four points at the break. NJIT had 6 points apiece from Alex Stone and Andrew Engel.

Columbia led throughout the second half, but could not build an advantage of more than seven points until Nwachukwu hit two free throws to make it 54-46 with 7:08 left. A couple of minutes later, Brett Loscalzo made one of two free throws to give the Lions a 56-47 lead with 5:28 remaining.

The Highlanders drew what proved to be a last gasp when Barker cut the deficit back to six, 56-50, on a three-pointer with 5:10 left.

Columbia answered with a six-point push--two free throws by Loscalzo and two free throws and a bucket by Nwachukwu, making it 62-51 with 3:19 to play. Barker answered with a score 14 seconds later, but Baumann's layup at the 2:40 mark made it a double-figure lead for the Lions the rest of the way.

Columbia outscored NJIT, 20-13, over the last 6:36 and 16 of those 20 points came at the foul line. The Lions shot 24-for-28 at the line in the second half and 28-for-35 for the game.