NEW YORK, N.Y. - Lafayette's Eric Sondberg netted a career-high 28 points in an 83-72 loss to Columbia on Tuesday evening in Levien Gymnasium.

The senior guard shot 6-of-13 from beyond the arc and 52.9 percent from the floor on 17 attempts. Freshman Mark Butler also had a career night, scoring 15 points and dishing eight assists in 37 minutes.

Columbia shot 53.3 percent from the field and had 40 points in the paint as well as 25 off the bench. The Lions featured an even scoring attack with five players in double figures led by Avery Brown and Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa with 15 points each.

Butler kicked off the first half, shooting 3-for-3 from the floor, as the Leopards led the Lions 12-11 at 15:14.

Columbia pulled ahead with a layup and a pair of free throws by Josh Odunowo at 9:36 for a 24-19 lead. An 8-6 Columbia run, led by Noah Robledo with four points, closed out the first half, with Columbia leading 38-32.

Sondberg netted two 3-pointers to open the second half and enter into double figures (12), aiding in combating a 14-10 Lion run. Columbia held a 52-42 advantage at 14:03.

Lafayette held its opponent scoreless for the following three minutes, tallying five points to close the gap to eight, 55-47 at 10:39.

A native of Davidsonville, Md., Sondberg knocked down back-to-back shots from beyond the arc to get the Leopards within four, 59-55, at the seven-minute mark. Sinking yet another 3-point basket, Sondberg overtook his previous 20 points at Boston U. last season on Jan. 5 at 5:48.

Freshman Luke Rasmussen interjected with his own 3-pointer before Sondberg knocked down his sixth of the evening and fourth in a row, Lafayette still trailed Columbia 71-64 at 3:15.

Butler made it a three-point game with 2:48 left on the clock as he converted a layup and two free throws following a flagrant Columbia foul, to pull Lafayette within 73-71, 

Columbia's Brown fueled a final 10-2 run, which included six free throws, with five points to seal the 83-72 outcome in favor of the Lions.

Columbia narrowly out-rebounded Lafayette 34-32, leaving a 12-9 margin on the offensive glass up to the Leopards.

Men's basketball hosts La Salle on Saturday before taking a 12-day break for Lafayette's final exam period. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m.
 
For the latest on the Lafayette College men's basketball program, follow the Leopards on X @LafayetteMBB and Instagram @lafayettembb.