Men's Basketball Back In Action Saturday Against Hofstra On Prostate Cancer Awareness Night
12/17/2014 8:22:00 PM | Men's Basketball
GAME NOTES (.pdf)
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20 • 7 P.M. |
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| (5-3) | (7-2) |
| GAMEDAY INFO | |
| LIVE AUDIO |  |
| ANNOUNCERS | Jerry Recco & Sal Licata |
| LIVE STATS | |
| IN-GAME UPDATES | @CULionsMBB |
PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS NIGHT
Columbia Athletics has partnered with the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC) at the Columbia University Medical Center to increase awareness of prostate cancer. As part of this important evening, half of all ticket proceeds will be donated to prostate cancer research at the HICCC. Donations will be collected at the game. Fans in attendance will receive a blue wristband to increase awareness of prostate cancer.
All fans are encouraged to join us in this promotion and attend this special game wearing COLUMBIA BLUE!
GAME NOTES
COLUMBIA'S STATUS
The Lions will end a 10-day finals hiatus Saturday night after their 56-46 defeat at No. 1 Kentucky. Columbia took an 11-0 lead out of the gate and led for a total of 27 minutes before the Wildcats broke through. The 10-point margin was the smallest margin of victory all season for Kentucky.
HOFSTRA'S STATUS
The Pride are riding a four-game winning streak after dispatching Coppin State, 105-64, on Dec. 10. Hofstra's only two losses have come against high-majors, North Carolina State and USF.
SERIES HISTORY
Columbia and Hofstra will meet for the ninth time, dating back to the 1985-86 season, and for the first time since 2004-05. After winning the first meeting, 81-60, the Lions have dropped the last eight contests against the Pride.
COLUMBIA AGAINST THE CAA
Against teams currently in the Colonial Athletic Conference, Columbia is 5-20. Hofstra is the most common CAA opponent for the Lions. Columbia's last win against a CAA team came on Jan. 8, 2012 against Elon, a 65-60 road victory.
HANGING WITH THE BEST
Columbia gave the No. 1 team in the land its best shot, going ahead 11-0 to start the game and leading Kentucky for the first 27 minutes of the game. Despite eventually falling in Lexington, the 10-point decision was the smallest margin of victory for the Wildcats.
THE DEFENSE NEVER RESTS
The Lions' defense this season has been superb thus far. They are allowing just 50.8 points per game, good for third in the country. Columbia opponents are aslo shooting .219 from downtown which ranks second in the NCAA.
LOCKING IT UP
Columbia held opponents under 50 points in three straight games from Nov. 23-29 for the first time since 2002 when the Lions did it in four consecutive games from Jan. 15-Feb. 1. (At Albany - L, 40-41, Cornell - W, 56-40, at Cornell - W, 54-42, at Princeton - L, 41-49). For the season, Columbia has held opponents under 50 points on four occasions.
GLUE GUY
Every team needs one and that's what the Lions have in junior Isaac Cohen. The 6-4 guard is currently second in the Ivy League in assists at 4.6 per game and is pulling down 6.9 rebounds per game, which is the best among guards in the Ancient Eight.
MORE ON IKE
Cohen handed out five or more assists in Columbia's first five games this season, the longest stretch for a Columbia player since Brian Barbour accomplished the feat in six-straight spanning two seasons (last five games of 2011-12 and first game of 2012-13). The Orlando, Florida, native also had 10 rebounds in back-to-back contests against Lehigh and FDU, becoming the first player to record double-figure rebounds in consecutive games since Mark Cisco hauled in 10 or more in three-straight during Ivy League play in 2012.
KLEPTOMANIAC
Maodo Lo set a new personal standard with five steals against Wagner on Nov. 18. He became the first Lion to record five or more swipes since Brian Barbour was credited with five steals against Brown in March of 2013. He is currently tied for first in the Ancient Eight and 13th in the NCAA in the category, averaging 2.8 swipes per contest.
THE LIONS' DEN
So far, the Lions are continuing their home dominance with a 4-1 record and have won three of the four games by double figures. Last season, Columbia won 14 games in Levien Gymnasium, the most since the building opened its doors in 1974. In the Kyle Smith era, the Lions are 41-21 in front of their home fans.
THE GIVING TREE
Senior Cory Osetkowski had his strongest game of the season against Bucknell, recording his first double-double of the year with 12 points and 12 rebounds. The 6-11 center also dished out six assists and rejected three shots. The rebound and assist totals were both career-highs.
SWISHING AND DISHING
The Lions were in the Holiday Spirit against Bucknell on Dec. 6, posting 15 assists on 22 field goal attempts. The assist total was a season-high for Columbia.
JAZZY JEFF
Sophomore Jeff Coby had a breakout game at Lehigh on Nov. 14, notching 16 points and 12 rebounds off the bench for his first career double-double. Both totals marked personal-bests.
CLEANING UP THE GLASS
Isaac Cohen and Jeff Coby each recorded double-figure rebounds at Lehigh on Nov. 14 becoming the first Lion duo to pull down 10+ boards in the same game since Dec. 8, 2008 when Asenso Ampin and Jason Miller recorded 11 each.
