Jan. 5, 2011
Box Score | 
Photo Gallery | 
News Stand | PL Mini-Season Ticket Package
EASTON, Pa. - Lafayette put four players in double figures, but it was Columbia that walked away with a 76-73 win on Wednesday night at Kirby Sports Center.
Ryan Willen led the way for the Leopards with 15 points, but the Leopards couldn't seem to slow Noruwa Agho who scored 17 of the Lions' final 18 points over an eight-minute span to close the game. Agho finished with a game-high 23.
Senior Darion Benbow finished a rebound shy of a first double-double, contributing 10 points, while Jared Mintz and Jim Mower both added 13 points.
In the first half, Columbia (8-5) went on an 18-3 run over the span of five minutes to lead the Leopards 36-22 with 6:07 remaining. The Lions had a trio of three-pointers in the run. Lafayette trailed 42-31 at halftime.
The Leopards (5-10) opened the second half with a 16-6 run that began with a Mower three-pointer in the opening 12 seconds and ended on a Willen five-point play. Willen drove to the hoop and was fouled on his shot attempt. The layup was good. Columbia head coach Kyle Smith was whistled for a technical, resulting in two extra free throws. Willen made all three foul shots and the Leopards led 50-48 with 13:56 left to play.
After the five-point play, Columbia tied the game for the fourth time at 50-50. From that point, the teams exchanged the lead seven times. With just over four minutes to play, Columbia's Brian Barbour put in a layup to lead 67-66, the final of 19 times the lead changed hands.
Lafayette trailed by as many as four twice in the last minute and a half. Benbow cut the deficit to 74-73 with a three-point play with 12 seconds remaining, but Agho free throws sealed the 76-73 decision.
The Leopards shot 78 percent from the stripe (18-23) and 40 percent from the field. Columbia shot 50 percent from the field, connecting on 30-of-60 shots. The rebounding battle was even, despite the Leopards' being outrebounded 21-13 in the first half.
Lafayette opens Patriot League play at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, taking on Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass.
