NEW YORK, N.Y.—  The LIU men's basketball team took a bus ride over to Manhattan on Tuesday night to take on Ivy League hopeful Columbia.
 
The Lions jumped out to a 19-point lead but the Sharks kept fighting, cutting it down to 16 at half. In the second half LIU came alive. The Sharks shot 48.5% from the field and were able to cut the deficit to as little as six. Unfortunately for LIU, fouls were its undoing as Columbia was able to keep adding on at the foul line. LIU fell 77-67 in a hard ought game.
 
Freshman Eric Acker continued his hot streak after his 18-point game at UCLA and put up a career-high 20 while played all 40 minutes in the game. He also added three assists and a rebound.
 
Tana Kopa returned to form, scoring 15 points while shooting 3-9 from three. The Perth, Australia native also recorded five rebounds and a steal.
 
R.J. Greene once again led the Sharks in rebounds with nine, just narrowly missing another double-double as he scored 10 points.
 
Terell Strickland led the team with five assists.
 
The Sharks return to the court on Friday when they take on Texas A&M Corpus Christi in the NKU Thanksgiving Tournament in Highland Heights, Kentucky.