ITHACA, N.Y. -- Matt Morgan scored 21 points and broke the Cornell career scoring record along the way as the Big Red survived a valiant comeback attempt by Columbia for a 60-59 win on a snowy Saturday afternoon at Newman Arena. The Big Red improved to 9-8 (1-0 Ivy), while the Lions fell to 5-10 (0-1 Ivy).

Morgan, needing six points to surpass former Ivy Player of the Year Ryan Wittman '10 at 2,028 points, knocked down a pair of treys in the span of 31 seconds, setting the mark with 14:27 remaining in the first half to cap a game-opening 14-0 run for the Big Red. Morgan ended the night with 2,044 points - moving him up to No. 4 on the conference scoring list. The senior added five rebounds, five assists and three steals in the victory. He hit four of the team's 13 3-pointers on the afternoon, as Cornell connected on 48 percent of its shots from beyond the arc on the night, with a blistering 64 percent (9-of-14) in the first half.

Junior Josh Warren collected his first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds and senior Steven Julian grabbed 10 boards, blocked four shots, scored three points with three assists and stole a pass while providing his typical defensive effort. Jimmy Boeheim chipped in nine points, Riley Voss scored six and Terrance McBride dished six of team's 18 assists (on 21 baskets).

Gabe Stefanini had 18 points and five rebounds, while Quinton Adlesh scored 10. Maka Ellis came off the bench and was credited with nine points, three rebounds and two assists in the loss. The Lions forced 20 Big Red turnovers and outrebounded Cornell 36-32, including 23-16 after the break.

The Big Red seemed to be in control most of the afternoon, taking a 14-point lead into the half and pushing it to as many as 18 with 13:03 left. Morgan scored 19 of his points in the first 20 minutes, including hitting a pull-up jumper at the horn to give the home team all the momentum entering the break. The senior had a layup and assisted on two baskets, including a behind-the-back helper on a Riley Voss 3-pointer, to force a Lions' timeout with 13 minutes left. From there, Columbia went on a 26-7 run - sparked largely by Stefanini, who scored three straight baskets, the last giving the Lions a 57-56 edge, its first of the game, with 2:31 remaining.

Cornell was able to quickly regain the lead on the ensuing possession, with McBride finding Boeheim for the go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:02 left, pushing the home team ahead 60-58. To set up a sticky ending. The Big Red missed a pair of one-and-one front ends in the final minute and Columbia turned it over twice in the final 30 seconds, but still had a chance. After the second missed free throw, the Big Red fouled Columbia on the perimeter, giving them two shots to try and tie the score with 3.8 seconds left. Stefanini made the first and misfired on the second, but the Lions batted an offensive rebound back at the hoop. The shot was just off, allowing the buzzer to sound and the Big Red to escape with the victory.

NOTES TO KNOW
• Morgan extended his streak of consecutive double figure games to 68 - double the previous record of 34 set by John Sheehy '55, a mark that stood for 64 years.
• That streak ranks 23rd in NCAA history and is one game behind UCLA's Lew Alcindor.
• Morgan's four assists make him the 15th player in school history to surpass 250 for their career. 
• Not only did Morgan surpass Wittman on the Ivy League scoring list, but also Brown's Earl Hunt (2,041) for fourth.
• The Big Red upped its home win streak to four games and has now won four of its last five overall.
• With his four blocked shots, Steven Julian jumped to ninth on the career list with 68. He surpassed Alex Tyler '10, who compiled 66.
• The 13 3-pointers made by the Big Red is tied for the 18th-most in a game in Cornell history - the fourth time this year the Big Red has made at least 13 treys.
• Josh Warren's 10 rebounds were a career high.
• Warren and Julian both hit double figures in rebounds, the first time Cornell teammates reached that mark in the same game since Stone Gettings and Jack Gordon did the same against Niagara last year.
• Cornell played with fourth-leading scorer Jake Kuhn, who missed the game due to injury.
• The Big Red is 4-0 this season when limiting opponents under 60 points.

NEXT UP
• The Big Red will return the trip when it heads to New York City to meet the Lions on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m.