Second-half rally lifts Columbia over Marist 69-54

NEW YORK (AP) — Mike Smith scored 16 points and Columbia pulled away in the second half to beat Marist 69-54 on Saturday in the Red Foxes’ final nonconference game of the season.

Smith had scored 20 or more points in the previous eight consecutive games, the first Columbia player to do that since David Newmark had 13 straight 20-point games in 1965-66.

Randy Brumant added 12 points and four assists for the Lions (4-9), who ended a four-game skid and outscored Marist 44-28 in the second half. Jake Killingsworth scored 11 points with three 3-pointers and Luke Bolster added eight points, four rebounds and four assists.

Marist led 26-25 at halftime on Matthew Herasme’s 3-pointer after the Red Foxes held the Lions without a field goal in the final 7:04.

Smith tied it at 28 with a free throw early in the second half and Columbia pulled ahead 57-42 on a 12-3 run capped by Killingsworth’s 3-pointer with 5:37 left and led by as many as 17.

Tyler Sagl scored 13 points and Michael Cubbage added 12 for Marist (1-9), which shot 37% from the field in losing its ninth straight. Herasme and Jack Cavanaugh scored 11 apiece.

Marist hosts Quinnipiac on Friday to open Mid-American Athletic Conference play. Columbia hosts Albany (NY) on Monday.