Box Score I Box Score (PDF) I Game Highlights

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- After three minutes, it looked like heavily-favored Columbia was going to run away from Cornell in the Ivy League men's basketball opener for both teams.

But Cornell scratched and clawed, playing its best defense of the season, and never let the Lions break it open. Columbia eventually won 71-61 on Saturday evening at Levien Gymnasium, but only after some tense final moments.

Junior Devin Cherry scored 16 points to lead three double figure scorers, while freshman Darryl Smith had 12 points and five rebounds and sophomore Nolan Cressler chipped in 11 before becoming one of three backcourt players to foul out. Senior Jake Matthews, who also fouled out, had a season-high seven points off the bench.

Columbia's Alex Rosenberg had a game-high 20 points, while Grant Mullins scored 19. Maodo Lo scored 12 and Isaac Cohen notched 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists to lead the Lions. Columbia shot 48 percent from the floor, but turned the ball over 17 times.

Columbia, the Ivy League's top 3-point shooting team, hit three from beyond the arc in the first two and a half minutes, but would only connect for two more over the final 37. Though it shot 55 percent as a team in the first half, it was clearly Cornell's defensive energy that stood out. Despite playing the final 10 minutes without leading scorer Nolan Cressler, who went out of the game with two fouls, Cornell trailed just 29-26 at the break.

The Big Red freshman foursome of Robert Hatter, David Onuorah, Darryl Smith and Desmond Fleming was largely responsible for the run that got Cornell right back in it after trailing by seven points early. An Onuorah dunk on a feed from Smith started the run, followed by a putback by the rookie post. Cornell tie the game at 21-21 in a 3-pointer by Cherry and again at 24-24 a minute later when Matthews hit one.

Columbia took control early in the second half and led by as many as 18 with six minutes to play in the game and was still up 17 with 3:42 left, but Cornell came roaring back.

The rally started innocently enough with a Cressler 3-pointer, then two free throws, another trey and a pull-up jumper. Cressler's personal 10-2 run got the visitors within 63-54 with two minutes remaining. A 3-pointer by Matthews and a conventional three-point play by Cherry got the Big Red back to 67-60, and after a steal, senior Dominick Scelfo was fouled shooting from beyond the arc. Scelfo made one free throw to make it 67-61, and Cornell would get no closer.

Cornell and Columbia will square off again on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 12 p.m. at Newman Arena.