STONY BROOK, N.Y. (Interstat) — In a game defined by dramatic momentum swings and a relentless individual duel, Erik Pratt’s clutch free throws in the final second of overtime lifted Stony Brook to a 77-73 victory over Columbia in a non-conference men’s basketball thriller Tuesday night at Island Federal Credit Union Arena.

The Seawolves, who led by as many as 13 points in the first half and saw a late regulation lead vanish, outlasted the Lions in the extra period behind Pratt’s composure and a key defensive stand. The win improved Stony Brook to 7-3, while Columbia, which had won eight of its last nine, fell to 9-2.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final 20 seconds of overtime. With Stony Brook clinging to a 75-73 lead, Columbia’ Kenny Noland, who had carried the Lions’ second-half charge, was called for a foul on Rob Brown with one second remaining. Brown, a 41-minute ironman for the Seawolves, calmly sank both free throws to seal the four-point victory, capping a tense finish that saw neither team lead by more than four in the extra period.

The game’s pivotal turn, however, came in the final minute of regulation. Trailing 65-60 with under 90 seconds to play, Columbia mounted a furious comeback. Noland, a guard from Apex, North Carolina, drew a foul on a 3-point attempt and made all three free throws. After a Stony Brook turnover, Noland then drilled a deep 3-pointer to suddenly put the Lions ahead 66-65 with 1:05 left. Stony Brook’s Pratt answered with a tough jumper to regain the lead, only for Columbia’s Ryan Soulis to score inside off a Noland assist to make it 68-67 Lions with 27 seconds left.

Pratt, a Lake Worth, Florida native, then missed a jumper on the ensuing possession, but Columbia’s Blair Thompson could not secure the defensive rebound. The loose ball eventually found its way back to Pratt, who was fouled on a put-back attempt with 1.9 seconds on the clock. He sank both free throws to tie the game at 68, forcing overtime after a desperation Columbia heave fell short.

The contest was a tale of two halves. Stony Brook dominated the opening frame, using a 19-2 run to build a 28-10 lead. The Seawolves’ defense stifled Columbia, holding the Lions to 17 first-half points on 6-of-31 shooting and forcing 10 turnovers. Columbia’s offensive rating was a dismal 44.7 before the break.

The Lions roared back after halftime, nearly doubling their first-half output in the first ten minutes of the second period. Noland catalyzed the surge, scoring 19 of his game-high 24 points after intermission. Columbia’s defensive pressure also intensified, generating 11 steals for the game. A 13-2 Lions run erased a 12-point deficit and set the stage for the back-and-forth battle that defined the final ten minutes of regulation and overtime.

Pratt matched Noland with 24 points for Stony Brook, adding three assists in 39 minutes. Brown contributed 12 points and three assists, while Richard Goods of Greensboro, North Carolina, provided 10 points, three assists and strong interior defense. For Columbia, Soulis, from Athens, Greece, posted 12 points and four blocks, and Connor Igoe of Brooklyn, New York, added 10 points.

Statistically, the game was a rugged, defensive struggle. Both teams shot under 42% from the field. Columbia held a significant advantage on the offensive glass, 14-8, and in fastbreak points, 9-2. Stony Brook countered by committing three fewer turnovers and shooting a slightly better percentage from 3-point range, 33% to Columbia’s 26%. The Seawolves scored 77 points on 84 possessions for an offensive rating of 91.7, just edging Columbia’s 89.0 rating on 82 possessions.

The announced attendance was 1,196. Columbia next travels to face California on Dec. 21. Stony Brook hosts Central Michigan on Dec. 13.