Harvard tames Columbia Lions 80-70

NEW YORK -- Wesley Saunders scored 21 points and Harvard rebounded from a loss at Cornell to beat Columbia, 80-70 Saturday night and set up a first-place showdown at home against Yale in the penultimate Ivy League game Friday night.

Harvard (20-6, 10-2) owned sole-possession of first place prior to the 57-49 loss and the Crimson wasted little time in making up the lost ground, opening the game on a 17-9 run that ballooned to a 37-24 advantage at halftime.

Saunders scored most of his points at the free-throw line, converting 11 of 13 attempts. Steve Moundou-Missi added 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Harvard, which shot 58.7 percent from the field (27 of 46). The Crimson was 22 of 29 from the free-throw line.

Maodo Lo poured in 33 points to lead the Lions (13-13, 5-7), who were 26 of 49 from the field (26 of 49), including 6 of 18 from distance.