Columbia Travels a Few Miles North to Face Manhattan on Saturday Afternoon
11/24/2011 1:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball
NEW YORK - Columbia returns from a brief Thanksgiving break to take on Manhattan at Draddy Gymnasium in the Bronx on Saturday, November 26 at 2 p.m.
For two schools separated by just seven miles and 14 subway stops on the 1 train, Columbia and Manhattan have not met since November 24, 2003. The Jaspers defeated the Lions 72-57 in that game at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, N.Y.
Prior to that game, the schools hadn't met since a 1994 game at Draddy Gym. Columbia leads the all-time series 13-8, dating back to the 1917-18 campaign.
Fans can watch or listen live to Saturday's game via SideLION Pass with Jerry Recco and Dalen Cuff on the call. Live stats and game notes are also available.
STONY BROOK STYMIES LIONS IN 1ST HALF ON ITS WAY TO A WIN
Brian Barbour scored 16 of his game-high 23 points in the second half but Stony Brook held on to capture a 67-53 victory over Columbia at Pritchard Gym on Tuesday night. The Lions eventually got to within seven points, 52-45, on a three-pointer by Barbour at the 7:32 mark. But Stony Brook's Leonard Hayes drilled a triple on the next possession to put Stony Brook back in front by 10 points. The Seawolves would remain ahead by double digits for the rest of the game.
LIONS VS. THE MAAC
Columbia has not played a team from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in three seasons. This season, the Lions will play two MAAC teams - Manhattan and Marist. Columbia's last MAAC opponent was Marist, whom the Lions defeated at the 2008 Madison Square Garden Holiday Festival.
BARBOUR'S SHOP
Junior point guard Brian Barbour has led Columbia in scoring in each of the last three games and matched his career high with 23 points in Tuesday's game at Stony Brook. Barbour made nine of his fifteen shots from the field, scoring 16 of his 23 points after halftime. Barbour also played terrific defense on Stony Brook's star guard Bryan Dougher, limiting him to just seven points prior to the final minute.
YOU'RE ON THE MARK, CISCO
Junior center Mark Cisco posted the first double-double of his collegiate career last Saturday vs. American. In the game, Cisco scored 15 points and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds. Cisco was two points shy of his career high of 17 points, scored against Yale last February.
TAKING CARE OF THE ROCK
After committing 11 turnovers during a sloppy first half at Stony Brook, Columbia had just four turnovers in the second half.
BENCHMARK DATA
Against Stony Brook, Columbia's bench scored 23 of its 53 points. The rookie trio of Cory Osetkowski, Alex Rosenberg and Noah Springwater combined for 17 points and Chris Crockett scored six points and handed out two assists in 16 minutes of action.
LIONS CONTROLLING OFFENSIVE GLASS
In three of its first four games, Columbia has held the advantage in offensive rebounding. Against UConn, Columbia had 20 offensive rebounds to UConn's 10. In the game vs. Furman, the Lions outrebounded the Paladins 17-13 on the offensive boards. And against American, Columbia had seven offensive rebounds to American's four. Against Stony Brook on Tuesday, the Seawolves outrebounded Columbia 45-28.
BACK TO D
In its first four games, Columbia's defense has played well as the Lions have yielded 66.2 points per game, allowed opponents to shoot 42.7 percent and have held all four opponents to 70 points or fewer. In four of the last five seasons, Columbia has ranked in the top three in the Ivy League in fewest points allowed per game.
SURE SHOT
Against American, Columbia had its best shooting game of the season. The Lions made 48 percent of their shots from the field and made five of their ten three-point attempts. Four different players made a trifecta in the game for Columbia.
BLAISE OF GLORY
Senior forward Blaise Staab posted the first double-double of his collegiate career in the season opener at UConn. In the game, Staab scored 11 points, pulled down 12 rebounds, including five offensive boards. Against Furman on Nov. 14, Staab also had a strong outing with eight points and eight rebounds.
CROCKETT ROCKS IT
Senior guard Chris Crockett has come off the bench in the first four games to play meaningful minutes for the Lions. In Tuesday's game at Stony Brook, Crockett hit two three-pointers for the third time this season. Crockett has also handed out at least one assist in each game this season.
GO, JOHNNY, GO
Junior forward John Daniels made his first start of the season at Stony Brook after missing the first two games due to injury. Against American on Nov. 19, Daniels had three points, three rebounds and two assists in his first action of the season.
MARVELOUS MEIKO
In his first start of the season, sophomore guard Meiko Lyles scored seven points on three of six shooting vs. American. Lyles added two rebounds in the game. As a rookie last season, Lyles averaged 5.7 points and 2.4 rebounds per game, primarily in the late stages of the 2010-11 season.
WELCOME MATT
Senior guard Matt Johnson has started the first four games of the season for the Lions at the third guard spot. Johnson gives Columbia good size and versatility at that position and is one of the team's best on-ball defenders.
ROSENBERG IMPRESSES EARLY
Rookie forward Alex Rosenberg has come on strong in early action. In the game at Stony Brook, he scored a season-high eight points and grabbed four rebounds. Rosenberg sank two three-pointers in 20 minutes of action at Stony Brook.
OSETKOWSKI'S BLOCK PARTY
Rookie center Cory Osetkowski blocked three shots in the game at Stony Brook on Tuesday. A week earlier vs. Furman, Osetkowski swatted four shots and now has a team-high seven blocked shots on the season. Osetkowski had four points, five rebounds and two assists in the game at Stony Brook.
NOAH'S ARC
Rookie Noah Springwater saw his first significant action of the season, playing 25 minutes at Stony Brook. Springwater buried two field goals, one from beyond the arc and grabbed two rebounds in the game.
