Wes Fesler's speedy quintet, minus the services of Leavitt White, went down to defeat by Columbia on the short end of a 51-28 score Saturday night as the Lions strengthened their hold on the League championship by adding another victory to their previous total of five consecutive wins.

For nine long minutes of the first half, the Crimson team went scoreless until Fletcher broke the spell by dropping a close shot for the Crimson's first tally. Three more points were added before the whistle blew, with the score at 27-5.

Fletcher and Kollinites held the Lions' scoring down in the last period to a total of only one more point than that of the Crimson team. Grays starred on the sharpshooting end for the Feslermen, with his four field goals and one free throw.

A series of long shots by the home team brought the crowd to its collective feet, but the scoring came too late, and the game ended shortly after Lavietes had sunk a long throw for the last points of the game.