“Heartbreaker in New Jersey: Men’s Basketball Falls Short Against Rutgers in Non-Conference Finale”

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Columbia men’s basketball suffered a defeat against Rutgers, 91-64, on Monday inside Jersey Mike’s Arena.

Current Ivy League Player of the Week Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa led the Lions with 17 points. Kenny Noland achieved his 11th double-digit scoring game of the season with 16 points and an impressive 4-5 shooting from beyond the arc. His four three-pointers and eight rebounds marked personal bests.

Rutgers (8-5, 1-1) commenced the game with a 12-4 streak and led by as much as 13 with 5:34 remaining in the first half.

The Lions remained competitive and reduced the lead to 41-35 on a Zine Eddine Bedri lay-up. The Scarlet Knights maintained a six-point advantage at halftime.

Rubio De La Rosa contributed 11 points during the first 20 minutes with 5-9 shooting. Columbia managed to maintain a shooting percentage of 50 in the half.

Halfway through the second period, Rutgers exploded with a 10-2 surge, establishing a 64-48 advantage with 11:56 left. Dylan Harper’s fourth three-pointer of the contest prompted a timeout for Columbia and capped the run. Harper concluded the game with 16 points. Scarlet Knights standout guard Ace Bailey scored the highest points in the game with 24 on 11-18 shooting.

Later in the second half, Rubio De La Rosa broke a nearly four-minute scoring drought for the Lions by sinking a corner three. Rutgers widened the gap to 78-58 at the last media timeout with 3:57 to go.

Bedri recorded eight points and six rebounds for Columbia, while Avery Brown added nine points.

Columbia will be back on the court on Saturday, Jan. 11, hosting Cornell at 2 p.m. for their Ivy League opener. Click here or call 888-LIONS-11 to acquire tickets.

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