NEW YORK, N.Y. – Cornell's defense, so active all season in putting together the nation's top turnaround, put together a masterpiece on Saturday evening at a packed Levien Gymnasium. This time, the offense did its part and the result was a season split with Columbia, knocking off the Lions 57-47 on Saturday evening. Cornell improved to 9-9 (1-1 Ivy) with the victory, while the Lions slipped to 9-7 (1-1 Ivy).

Cornell limited the Lions to 33 percent shooting, including 24 percent from 3-point range, held the home team to one field goal in the first eight minutes of the second half, posted nine blocked shots and stole six passes. Columbia only stayed in the game thanks to its ability to offensive rebound, picking up 19 errant shots off the glass.

The Big Red, meanwhile, hit on 45 percent of their shots on the night and nine different players hit the scoring column. Shonn Miller led the way with 18 points, nine rebounds, four blocked shots and two assists and all but closed off the lane. Galal Cancer chipped in 16 points, Devin Cherry notched nine points and freshman Jordan Abdur-Ra'oof had a productive three minutes with five points, including a key 3-pointer, and a blocked shot. The nine blocks on the night rank seventh in a single game in Cornell history.

Columbia's Maodo Lo scored 11 points, but was harassed into 4-of-16 shooting and four turnovers in 37 minutes after going scoreless against the BIg Red last weekend. Isaac Cohen had 13 points, four rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal while hitting 6-of-10 shots from the floor. Aside from Cohen, the rest of the Lions connected on just 13-of-48 shots (.271). Cory Osetkowski had a game-high 11 rebounds and blocked two shots.

Columbia was limited to 27 percent shooting after halftime, allowing zero points in the first 6:53 and just one field goal over 8:24 to begin the second stanza. The Lions twice cut a six-point deficit to four and once to three (35-32 with 10:44), but Abdur-Ra'oof triggered the run that put enough separation between the teams. He blocked a shot, then got to the line after a Ned Tomic offensive board. He nailed a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to force a Columbia timeout. The home team would only briefly get back within single digits after a Devin Cherry basket made it 44-34 with 5:51 left.

Dave LaMore's crazy tip-in at the half sent the visitors into the break with a 27-25 lead behind a monster half by Miller. The senior had 11 points, four rebounds, three blocks and an assist as part of a team defensive effort that held the Lions starters to 6-of-20 shooting and just 40 percent overall. Cancer added seven points and Cherry had five.

The tip-in, coming off a Darryl Smith 3-pointer with two seconds to play, clearly beat the buzzer, which was confirmed by the review. That sent the Big Red into the half with its biggest lead of the night after seeing the Lions take a lead that grew to as many as six points midway through the half.

Five straight points by Cancer kept Cornell in it early, and Miller closed late. He scored all 11 of his points in the final 11 minutes of the first half.

The second half saw the Big Red pull away slowly, only momentarily seeing the lead drop to three (35-32) before Abdur-Ra'oof scored five straight. The Lions were scoreless for the first 6:53 of the half and led by double figures for most of the final six minutes of the win.