ITHACA, N.Y. -- Columbia shot 50 percent from the floor thanks in large part to the hot shooting of senior Luke Petrasek and overcame a balanced Big Red offense in a 79-75 victory over Cornell on Saturday afternoon at Newman Arena. Petrasek scored a career high 31 points for the Lions, who improved to 7-7 (1-0 Ivy). Cornell fell to 4-12 (0-1 Ivy) in the loss.

Cornell had five double figure scorers with Stone Gettings and Matt Morgan leading the way with 14 apiece. Morgan scored all 14 points after the break after getting into first half foul trouble, while Gettings matched a career high with eight assists. Sophomore Jack Gordon posted a career-high 13 points and added three assists, while Josh Warren chipped in 10 points and Robert Hatter scored 10. Cornell accumulated 21 assists on 26 baskets and hit 14-of-31 3-pointers on the night, but couldn't get enough stops against a veteran Columbia squad.

Petrasek was extremely efficient for his 31 points, connecting on 11-of-14 field goals and all seven free throws. He added six rebounds. Mike Smith scored 17 with five assists and Nate Hickman posted 15 points for the Lions. Columbia outrebounded the Big Red 37-31 and held a dominant 42-18 edge in points in the paint.

Playing without Morgan for the final 10:30 of the first half, Cornell saw the Lions take a seven-point lead before evening out. The Big Red trailed by five at the break (37-32), but erased the deficit in the first 47 seconds of the final 20 minutes as part of a 11-0 run out of the locker room. Hatter connected on consecutive 3-pointers and Morgan got on the board with a trey to force a Columbia timeout down 43-37 less than two minutes into the second half. Columbia regained its advantage three minutes later on a jumper by Mike Smith, and 90 seconds later Smith found Petrasek at the top of the key for a 3-pointer to put the visitors up five. 

The Big Red tied the game twice in the final 6:30 and trailed by just one after Morgan hit a pair of free throws with 28 seconds remaining. Columbia struggled to inbound the ball and eventually turned it over when Troy Whiteside swiped the ball from behind the dribble of Nate Hickman 10 seconds later. Cornell gained possession on the arrow and called timeout with eight seconds left. The Big Red quickly inbounded the ball on the sidelines, but the return handoff went astray and the Lions picked up the loose ball. Two free throws gave Columbia a 77-74 advantage with four seconds left, and the Lions fouled Morgan before he could cross half court. The sophomore missed the first and, despite trying to intentionally miss the second, banked in the free throw. Columbia was fouled on the inbounds and connected on both charity tosses to seal the win.

NOTES TO KNOW
• Cornell's 14 3-point field goals ranks 11th in a single game all-time in Big Red history.
• The Big Red has dropped seven consecutive Ivy League openers, all against Columbia.
• The Lions have won 10 of the last 13 meetings between the teams and lead the all-time series 128-99.
• Sophomore Matt Morgan has hit a 3-pointer in 16 consecutive games and multiple treys in 10 straight.
• Sophomore Jack Gordon hit all four 3-pointers on his way to a career-high 13 points and has now made 7-of-8 from beyond the arc in the last two contests.
• Over its last three home games, the Big Red is averaging 23.0 assists per game.

NEXT UP
• Cornell returns the favor and heads to New York City for a 7 p.m. matchup with the Lions at Levien Gymnasium on Saturday, Jan. 21.
• The Big Red is 9-5 at Levien over the last 14 seasons.