Columbia Returns to Levien Gym to Face Off with Colgate on Tuesday
11/22/2010 8:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball
NEW YORK - After two games on the road, Columbia will return to the friendly confines of Levien Gym on Tuesday, November 23, when the Lions will host Colgate. It is the first of three straight games for Columbia against schools from the Patriot League and the first meeting between these two institutions in nearly 12 years.
Columbia is returning from a 95-76 loss at Longwood on Saturday, when the Lancers broken open a tight game in the final eight minutes, using the three-point shot to its advantage to gain separation. Noruwa Agho led Columbia with 19 points in the game, while Steve Frankoski added 14, Brian Barbour had 11 points and five assists and Dyami Starks added 10 points.
Colgate is coming off a loss at top-ranked Duke on Friday night. Prior to that, the Raiders had lost their previous two games by a combined margin of five points. Colgate is paced by Yaw Gyawu, who enters Tuesday's game averaging 15.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per contest. Mike Venezia is the only other Raider in double figures. He is averaging 10.3 points per game.
Tickets for Tuesday's game are available online or by calling 888-LIONS-11. All Columbia undergraduate and graduate students are admitted free with Columbia/Barnard ID. Fans coming to the game on Tuesday are encouraged to bring a canned food item to Levien Gym to support Columbia's Student-Athlete Advisory Council in its annual Thanksgiving food drive.
Fans who can't make it to Levien Gym can catch all the action via Columbia's SideLION Pass with Jerry Recco providing the play-by-play. The game can also be heard live on WKCR 89.9 FM in New York City. Live stats and game notes are also available.
THE SERIES UP CLOSE
Series record: Columbia leads, 12-9
Series started: 1923-24
Last time out: Colgate, 75-64 (11/28/98)
HOT SHOTS
In its first four games, Columbia is shooting 46.1 percent from the floor and 41.3 percent from three-point range. The Lions are also making 73.1 percent of their attempts from the free throw line.
CLEANING UP THE GLASS
Over the first four games of the season, Columbia holds a +5.5 margin in rebounding, averaging 39.5 rebounds per game to 34.0 rebounds per game for opponents.
THE HISTORY NOTE – COLGATE
Columbia and Colgate will meet for the first time in nearly 12 years, renewing a rivalry that dates back to the 1923-24 campaign. The Lions and Raiders last met on November 28, 1998, when Colgate was known as the Red Raiders. Colgate ended up defeating Columbia 75-64 on the final day of the Marist Pepsi Classic behind 19 points by Pat Campolieta. Gary Raimondo scored a game-high 23 points for Columbia with six rebounds and five assists to lead the Lions' attack. Columbia leads the all-time series 12-9 and last defeated Colgate in 1975 on the road in Hamilton, N.Y. The last time Columbia beat Colgate at home was on January 14, 1968, when the Lions knocked off Colgate 94-68 behind 30 points from Jim McMillian in University Gym. It was Columbia's sixth straight victory during a win streak that ultimately reached 16 games during Columbia's Ivy Legaue championship season.
COLUMBIA STUDENT-ATHLETES GIVE THANKS
Prior to Tuesday's game, fans are encouraged to join members of Columbia's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee in its annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. Thanks to the generosity of everyone who participated in this initiative last year, SAAC was able to deliver 33 baskets of food and essentials in addition to $400 in gift cards for turkey purchases to the Part of the Solution (POTS) soup kitchen and shelter, located in the South Bronx. This year, Columbia's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is hoping to surpass last year's efforts, and we kindly encourage you to help by bringing canned goods to Tuesday's game. Members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will collect all donated items in Levien Gymnasium Lobby prior to the game.
PATRIOTIC AROUND THE HOLIDAYS
The game against Colgate marks the first of three straight games for Columbia against Patriot League schools over the next week. After Tuesday's game against the Raiders, Columbia will travel to American (Nov. 28) and Bucknell (Dec. 1). The Lions defeated both the Eagles and Bison at Levien Gym last season.
LIONS AT LEVIEN
On January 4, 2010, Columbia won its 200th game at Levien Gymnasium, the Lions' home court since the start of the 1974-75 season, after playing at University Gymnasium. Columbia sports a record of 204-187 all-time at Levien, and has posted winning records at home in each of the last six seasons. Columbia has won four of its last six games at Levien Gym.
PICKING UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF
Junior guard Noruwa Agho has had a terrific start to the season, picking up where he left off in his All-Ivy campaign of a year ago. Through four games, Agho is averaging 20.0 points, 5.0 assists and 4.8 rebounds. Agho has scored in double figures in every game this season and has dished out at least five assists in three of the first four games. Agho is also closing in on the top ten in career marks of three-pointers made and steals. He ranks 16th all-time in three-pointers made and 17th in steals. Agho also ranks among the top 35 scorers in Columbia history after little more than two seasons.
BARBOUR SHOP
Sophomore guard Brian Barbour has embraced his role as Columbia's floor general this season, posting an eye-popping 4.3:1 assist to turnover ratio over the first four games. Barbour has handed out 17 assists with just four turnovers this season, dishing out five assists in three of the first four games.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDS
Senior forward Brian Grimes has been a monster on the glass over Columbia's first four games, averaging 6.8 points and 9.5 rebounds. Against a physical St. John's front line on November 17, Grimes grabbed 14 rebounds, seven of which came on the offensive glass. The 14 rebounds were a career best for Grimes, who has pulled down at least nine rebounds in three of his first four games this season.
FRANKLY SPEAKING
Columbia rookie guard Steve Frankoski has impressed early in his first college action in the Lions' backcourt. In the last three games, Frankoski is averaging 14.3 points per game, while shooting 54.2 percent from the field and 52.9 percent from three-point land.
STARKS SWISHING AND DISHING
Dyami Starks has provided an offensive spark off the Columbia bench in each of the last three games. During that span, Starks has scored in double figures each game, averaging 12.3 points per game. Over the last three games, Starks is getting it done from the field, shooting 52.2 percent overall and 55.6 from three-point range.
A SENSE O' SOMETHING GOOD
Senior forward Asenso Ampim has attacked the boards with vigor in the early going and provided Columbia with a strong interior presence off the bench in the first four games. Against St. John's on Wednesday, Ampim pulled down 11 rebounds and scored seven points in 21 minutes of action. Two days earlier at Maryland-Eastern Shore, he scored 11 points and grabbed nine boards.
