Blackbirds Drop Home Opener to Columbia, 80-63

(boxscore)

11/22/05 --Junior James Williams and sophomore Randy Jones each scored 13 points but it was not enough as Long Island University dropped its season opener, 80-63, to Columbia University on Tuesday evening at Schwartz Athletic Center. Sophomore Paska Morkelinas recorded 12 points for LIU.

Th first half featured six lead changes and 10 ties. With the score tied at 30-30, the Lions scored twice in the final 1:20 of play to post a 34-30 lead at intermission.

Columbia stretched the advantage to nine (39-30) less than three minutes into the second half before the Blackbirds came charging back. A 3-pointer from Jones closed LIU to three, 41-38, with 16:32 remaining but it would be as close as the Blackbirds would get.

The Lions registered a 21-10 run capped off by a Nwachukwa layup to lead 62-48 with just under seven minutes remaining. They pushed the advantage to 20 points twice in the final two minutes before posting the 80-63 victory.

The Lions shot 62.2 percent (28-of-45) from the field overall. LIU closed with a 31.7 clip, making just 8-of-29 attempts (27.6 percent) in the first frame and 11-of-31 attempts (35.5 percent) in the second half. They shot 26 percent from behind the arc.