St. Andrews Knights Fall to Columbia in Conference Opener, 87-106

Columbia, SC – The St. Andrews Knights opened their conference season on the road, but despite a valiant effort, they were unable to overcome Columbia University, falling 87-106 in a high-scoring contest.

The Knights were led by standout performances from Mateu Escamilla and Jaylin McDuffie. Escamilla played 35 minutes, finishing with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 assists. His shooting was efficient, and he also contributed on the glass, keeping St. Andrews competitive throughout the game.

McDuffie also provided a major offensive spark, scoring 17 points on. His three-point shooting kept the Knights in the game, but they were ultimately outpaced by Columbia's offensive firepower.

In addition to Escamilla and McDuffie, several other Knights made contributions, including Ma'Nas Drummond, who added 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in 21 minutes, and Caleb Brown, who chipped in 9 points and 6 rebounds. However, St. Andrews struggled with consistency, shooting just 41.1% from the field and 32.0% from three-point range. 

Columbia was powered by several strong performances, with Austin Harrell leading the charge with 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. Thomas Whitley contributed 14 points and 9 rebounds, while Kendall Brasfield added 15 points and 2 rebounds. The key difference in the game came from Columbia's offensive efficiency.

Chandler O'Bannon also played a key role, finishing with 13 points and 6 rebounds in 23 minutes. Columbia's ability to stretch the floor with their three-point shooting and dominate the boards with a 59-39 rebound advantage proved to be too much for the Knights.

While St. Andrews had several bright spots offensively, they struggled defensively, giving up 106 points. The Knights committed 22 turnovers, which allowed Columbia to capitalize with fast-break opportunities and easy baskets. St. Andrews' defense, especially on the perimeter, struggled to contain Columbia's sharpshooters, as the home team knocked down 9 threes in the game.

Looking Ahead

Despite the loss, the St. Andrews Knights showed resilience, particularly from Escamilla and McDuffie. The team will need to tighten up defensively and reduce turnovers as they continue their conference schedule. St. Andrews will be looking to bounce back as they prepare for their next home matchup on November 20th.