NEW YORK, N.Y. - Despite a 212-yard, 38-carry performance from running back Obozua Ehikioya (West Hempstead, N.Y.), the Marist football team suffered a 31-7 loss at Columbia on Saturday. Ehikioya set Marist's Division I program record for carries in a game, topping the previous high of 36 set by the late J.J. Allen against Duquesne in 1998. The contest marked Marist's first meeting in program history against an opponent from the Ivy League.

Ehikioya also scored Marist's lone touchdown of the game on an eight-yard scamper in the third quarter. The score capped a 12-play, 76-yard drive and cut the Red Foxes' deficit to 17-7. However, a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns enabled the Lions to pull away.

Ehikioya was seeing his first action since Marist's opening game at Lafayette on Sept. 1. It was the first time a Red Fox had run for over 200 yards in a game since Ehikioya ran for 253 against La Salle on Oct. 8, 2005.

Jordan Davis carried the ball 28 times for 177 yards and three touchdowns for Columbia, which improved to 1-1 by prevailing in its home opener. Justin Masorti led Columbia with 12 tackles.

Freshman defensive lineman Kario Gonzalez (New Windsor, N.Y.) led the Red Foxes with eight tackles, while fellow defensive lineman Tony Riley (Longmeadow, Mass.) added seven. Defensive back Paul Rabito (Brewster, N.Y.) had five solo tackles, a forced fumble and a pass broken up.

Marist, which fell to 0-4, will play the last of its five consecutive road games to open the season next Saturday, when the Red Foxes take on Bucknell of the Patriot League at 6 p.m.