NEW YORK (AP) Matt Preston scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half and Columbia rallied for a 53-49 victory over Long Island University on Wednesday night.
Preston also had a game-high 11 rebounds as the Lions (3-0) outrebounded the Blackbirds 46-41. Columbia last opened the season with a 3-0 record in 1979-80.
James Williams led the Blackbirds (1-1) with 13 points.
LIU built a 26-22 halftime lead, but Preston scored seven unanswered points in a two-minute span, enabling the Lions to turn a 32-30 deficit into a 37-32 lead with 12:40 remaining.
Columbia extended the margin to six at 41-35 with 9:09 left. But the Blackbirds drew within one at 46-45 with 3:06 to go before Preston hit five of his six free throw shots over the last 2:41.
