Short-Handed Green Come Up Short at Columbia

Saturday, January 30

New York, N.Y.

7:00 p.m.

Dartmouth College

4-14, 0-4Ivy

Columbia

7-11, 1-3Ivy

Dartmouth

Columbia

1/30/2010 8:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Dartmouth

Boxscore

NEW YORK, N.Y. — Three Dartmouth players scored in double figures, led by senior captain Robby Pride with 13, but the Big Green could not overcome the sharp-shooting of Noruwa Agho and his 25 points as host Columbia won a 63-51 contest on Saturday night at Levien Gymnasium. The Lions (7-11, 1-3 Ivy) snapped a five-game losing streak and left Dartmouth (4-14, 0-4 Ivy), who suited up just nine players due to injury and illness, still searching for its first Ivy League victory.

Agho ripped the nets at a 66.7 percent clip overall (8-of-12) and from downtown (4-of-6) while converting 5-of-7 at the line to compile his 25 points. He also led all players with nine rebounds in 37 minutes on the court. Niko Scott also drained 4-of-6 three-pointers for 12 points as the duo took all but one shot from long range as the Lions went 8-of-13 (.615) on their three-point attempts.

Dartmouth committed a season-low seven turnovers, but too many empty possessions doomed the Big Green as they shot just 36.5 percent (19-of-52) for the game. Pride was 5-of-13 overall and 3-of-9 on his three-pointers, while sophomore Jabari Trotter and junior Ronnie Dixon were both 4-of-9 with a triple to score 12 and 11 points, respectively. Sophomore Herve Kouna came off the bench to tally a career-high nine points while grabbing five boards.

For the first six minutes, Columbia showed off their shooting range with four three-pointers in building a 17-6 lead. Both Scott and Noruwa Agho drained two triples, but the tide started to turn when Scott went to the bench with two fouls after less than five minutes had expired.

Trotter fueled a 12-0 Dartmouth run over a seven-and-a-half-minute span, knocking down three long jumpers. Kouna played a role in the run with a baby hook in the lane and a nifty tip on a missed three-point attempt. A one-handed runner by Pride from the right wing gave Dartmouth its first lead of the night at 18-17.

Zack Crimmins ended the drought for the Lions with a field goal from the free throw line. But Trotter put the Big Green ahead again with a pair of foul shots. After Kouna scored on a layup while hitting the floor, Columbia got two free throws by seldom-used Brian Barbour, who finished the night with a career-high eight points. But Pride cranked a long three-pointer for Dartmouth's biggest lead in the half, 25-21. Agho and Barbour each provided one last field goal before the break, tying the game at 25 for the intermission.

The Big Green shot 41.7 percent (10-of-24) compared to Columbia's 45.0 (9-of-20) in the opening stanza, but the Dartmouth defense forced 10 turnovers to counter a 4-of-5 Lion performance behind the arc.

In the second half, the score remained tight as Pride, sophomore Josh Riddle and Dixon each scored a basket for a 31-30 Dartmouth edge. That would be the last Green lead of the night, however, as Columbia ripped off a quick 9-0 run with seven points coming from Agho.

A Trotter three-pointer and a free throw by Kouna quelled the tied only momentarily as the Lions scored the next 10 points to take a 50-36 lead. Three-pointers by Scott and Agho highlighted the Columbia spurt.

The Dartmouth deficit was still at 14 with three minutes to go before the Big Green put a scare into the Lions. The 6-1 Dixon converted a three-point play and a scoop shot around seven-footer Zack Crimmins, freshman Mbiyimoh Ghogomu muscled in a layup, Dixon drove for another layup and Pride drilled a trifecta on a 10-1 Dartmouth run, making it 55-50 with 1:07 to play.

Columbia was able to hold off the Big Green by knocking down its foul shots in the final minute, going 8-of-8 at the line. Those eight freebies helped the Lions shoot 79.2 percent (19-of-24) at the charity stripe, while Dartmouth was able to make just 8-of-13 (.615).

On the boards, the Lions took advantage of the under-manned Dartmouth roster, hauling in 34 to 25.

Dartmouth returns home next weekend, hosting Penn (2-14, 1-1 Ivy) at Leede Arena on Friday evening at 7 p.m. Columbia will continue a five-game homestand on Friday as well, entertaining Brown (7-14, 1-3 Ivy) at 7 p.m.