Columbia scores 64-52 win at Army

WEST POINT, N.Y.  - Columbia (8-5) used a 19-3 run in the early portion of the second half to overcome an eight-point deficit and went on to a 64-52 victory over Army (7-7) Saturday afternoon at Christl Arena. The loss was Army's first at home this season, snapping an eight-game winning streak in non-conference games at Christl Arena.

 

Senior Ella Ellis and freshman Kyle Wilson led the Black Knights with 11 points each. Wilson was 3-for-3 from three-point range. Rookie Kyle Toth scored nine points on three three-pointers and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. Plebe Larry Toomey had a team best three assists.

 

Army shot 32.7 percent (18-55) overall, including a 7-for-28 effort in the second half. The Black Knights did hit eight of their 14 (.571) three-point tries.

 

Columbia's Steve Frankoski scored a game-high 13 points of 5-of-6 shooting. Brian Barbour was also in double figures with 11 points. Mark Cisco snared a game-high 13 rebounds, helping the Lions to a 40-30 rebounding advantage. The Lions shot 46.0 percent for the game, including 57.1 percent after halftime.

 

Army led by five at halftime and extended their lead to eight points in the opening moments of the second half on a three-pointer by Toth. John Daniels answered to start the Lions' decisive run. Columbia scored eight straight points before an Army free throw. The Black Knights were just 1-for-12 during the run, including a stretch of eight straight misses.

 

Both teams struggled at the start, going a combined 1-for-11 from the floor to begin the game. Columbia led 3-0 when Toth drilled Army's first triple to tie the game and start a 7-2 run. Larry Toomey gave Army its first lead when he converted a backdoor layup off a feed from Maxwell Lenox with 13:00 showing on the clock.

 

The Lions tied the game at 7-7, but Ellis stroked his first three-pointer to give Army back the lead. The teams exchanged three-pointers on the next three possessions, tying the score at 13-13 with 7:44 left in the half. A jumper by Ellis put the Black Knights back on top and started a 7-0 run. Wilson's three-pointer capped the spurt with 3:36 remaining.

 

Army led 24-16 when Lo buried his second triple, ending a six-minute, seven-second stretch without a Columbia field goal. Barbour scored an old-fashioned three-point play with just 9.9 seconds left to cut the Lions' deficit to 26-24, but Toth was true from the right corner as time expired, sending Army into the locker room with a 29-24 edge.

 

Ellis led all players with 11 first-half points. Army shot 11-for-27 overall (.407), including a 5-for-7 showing from long range. The Black Knights' defense limited the Lions to 31.8 percent shooting (7-22) overall. Columbia made four of its 13 three-point tries in the first half.

 

After the Lions' second-half spurt made it 43-35 with 12:11 left, Cox converted a three-point play to make it a five-point game with 11:45 showing on the clock. Army pulled within two points on a three-pointer by Wilson, but the Lions scored the next seven points to regain a nine-point lead with 8:22 left. Columbia led by as many as 13 in the closing minutes before taking the 64-52 win.

 

Army will play its final pre-conference game of the season on Tuesday, Jan. 8 at Dartmouth. The Black Knights have won six of the last seven meetings with the Big Green.

 

Game Notes: Army used the starting five of Dylan Cox, Kyle Toth, Ella Ellis, Larry Toomey and Jordan Springer for the eighth consecutive game … Army has led at halftime in nine of its 14 games this season … Kyle Wilson scored in double figures for the third straight game, matching his career high … Army committed a season-low 10 turnovers … Army's bench was outscored for the first time in the first 14 games … the Black Knights' reserved had been averaging nearly 34 points per game entering the contest … Army can clinch its third .500-or-better pre-conference record in the last four seasons with a win at Dartmouth on Tuesday.