"Our offense was tentative and a bit sloppy,"Sullivan said. "We weren't poised, we weren'tconfident in the team offensively. But it wasgreat to see us respond by making our freethrows."

Clemente continued to play his finest ball ofthe season, scoring 18 points on 6-of-16 shootingand adding nine rebounds. Clemente has led theCrimson in scoring in three of the last fourgames.

But it was Ewing's presence in the paint and onthe defensive glass that compensated for theColumbia backcourt's propensity to drive and crashthe offensive boards. Ewing finished with 10points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.

"The significant defensive rebounding Ewinggave us helped immensely," Sullivan said. "He'sunder a fair amount of pressure, since we've losta center and a captain, but it's rewarding for himbecause he's such a diligent, hard worker. He'sgot to be commended for getting us through thegame."

Raimondo, third in the Ivy in scoring at 17.3points per game and first in steals with 2.6,finished 8-of-15 and added seven steals,contributing mostly in the second half afterfinding his three-point touch and converting threetakeaways into uncontested transition baskets.

But for the first time in the last threemeetings, Raimondo couldn't carry the Lions, asfreshman guard Drew Gellert and junior swingmanDamian Long combined to shut him down in mancoverage in the first half.

"Raimondo definitely got his numbers," Sullivansaid. "I thought Gellert did a good job shadowinghim and established a good presence around him."

Harvard used a 13-2 run to open up a 28-18 leadwith 6:05 remaining in the first half, usingtransition baskets by Beam--a breakaway lay-up anda three-pointer from the left wing--and a pair ofmakes from Hill to post its largest advantage ofthe game.

But Columbia rallied on the strength ofsecond-chance baskets by center Mike McBrien andforward Craig Austin to close to 31-25 at theintermission. The Lions managed nine offensiverebounds in the half and outrebounded the Crimson20-15.

Harvard battled through a disorganized secondhalf, committing 10 turnovers. Hill, the IvyLeague assists leader, managed only three assistsagainst three turnovers.

"Columbia plays a really tough denial defense,"Hill said. "I've never had a lot of assistsagainst Columbia, and as a point guard that'sdefinitely something I keep track of."

The Lions bounced back in a wild second half,which included one sequence with nine lead changesin 11 possessions.

Harvard put together a decisive 8-0 run with3:06 remaining after Columbia guard AbeYasser--who had made only four treys on theseason--knocked down a three-pointer from the topof the arc.

"You have to stay close with a team likeColumbia because of their three-point shooting,"Sullivan said. "When they're making, they'redangerous."

Clemente followed with a lay-up from the lowpost from Beam, then stuffed Columbia on threestraight possessions and made 9-of-12 from thefree-throw line down the stretch.