NEW YORK, N.Y. – Junior Alex Tuci (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) led all scorers with a game-high 15 points as the Manhattanville College men's basketball team faced off with a Division I opponent for the first time in almost 13 years, falling by an 84-42 score to Columbia University on Sunday afternoon at Levien Gymnasium.
 
Tuci was joined in double figures by classmate Brian Haggerty (Bayside, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) with 10 points, while fellow junior Dom Arena (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) had four points, four rebounds and three assists for Manhattanville (3-4), which was playing against a D-I team for the first time since a 94-57 loss to Quinnipiac University on January 5, 2004.
 
The Valiants had trouble defending the height and quickness of the Columbia (4-5) squad, as the Lions shot 58.6 percent (34 of 58) from the field and out-rebounded Manhattanville by a 40-24 margin while posting a 42-8 edge on points in the paint.
 
After a Columbia layup for the game's first points, Tuci connected from long range to put Manhattanville up 3-2 at the 2:18 mark of the first half, and he added another triple to knot the score at six with 16:29 left in the frame. But the Lions came back with a 13-2 run to grab their first double-digit lead at 19-8 with 10:37 to go.
 
Tuci had 10 of the Valiants 22 points in the opening 20 minutes as the visitors went into the locker rooms down 45-22. Manhattanville shot 29.6 percent (8 of 27) from the field in the opening half, compared to a blistering 61.3 percent (19 of 31) clip for the home team.
 
Manhattanville managed only five field goals in the second half, as Columbia continued to use its size and strength to keep the Valiants away from the rim.
 
The Valiants will head south to take part in the HoopMIA D3 Holiday Shootout next week, beginning with a matchup against Hartwick College next Sunday at 4 p.m. in Miami.