Dec. 12 • vs. NJIT • 7 p.m. | Dec.14 • vs. Robert Morris • 2 p.m.
NJIT (6-4)
Columbia (6-5)
Robert Morris (1-8)
INDVIDUAL IVY LEAGUE TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY
Men's basketball Ivy League single game tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Monday, December 14. Don't miss your chance to secure tickets for these games!
THE THREE-POINT PLAN
The Three Point Plan ticket package is available now.
1. Best Games - any three Men's Basketball games, including one premium game, before Ivy League single tickets go on sale!
2. Best Seats - buy early for the best seats in the house!
3. Best Value - $40, a savings of 20% PLUS a 20% off coupon for The Lion Store! Purchase at www.goclumbialions.com/tickets or by calling 888-LIONS-11.
THE STORYLINES
COLUMBIA'S STATUS
Luke Petrasek's 3-pointer with 6.4 seconds remaining gave the Lions their second consecutive road win, a 72-71 triumph at Manhattan Wednesday night. The game featured 12 lead changes and Columbia battled back from four points down with just 30 seconds to play.
NJIT'S STATUS
The Highlanders are coming off a thrilling 92-86 overtime win at St. Francis Brooklyn. Four players scored in double-figures while Tim Coleman and Ky Howard each recorded double-doubles. Coleman had 27 points and 12 boards and Howard finished with 23 points to go with 10 boards.
Damon Lynn paces the squad at 17.9 points per game. Coleman is the Highlanders' top rebounder at 7.1 per contest, while Howard is the team's main distributor at 4.3 assists per game.
SERIES HISTORY
Columbia is 4-0 all-time against the Highlanders, but have not faced NJIT since January 2009.
COLUMBIA VS. THE ATLANTIC SUN
The Lions hold a 6-3 record against teams currently in the Atlantic Sun. Columbia's most common foe in the league is NJIT.
PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS GAME
Saturday night's contest will be the men's basketball program's annual Prostate Cancer Awareness game. In partnership with the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, 50 percent of ticket proceeds will go directly to Prostate Cancer research. There will also be tables at the game for fans to donate to the cause. Fans and all attendees are encouraged to wear blue to support the cause. For more information, visit http://hiccc.columbia.edu.
FAMILIAR FACE
NJIT head coach Jim Engles will spent 2003-08 as an assistant coach at Columbia under Joe Jones. This will be Engles third time facing the Lions.
ROBERT MORRIS' STATUS
The Colonials have been off since a Dec. 4 defeat against Oaklan (92-74). Rodney Pryor dropped a career-high 35 points against the Golden Grizzlies.
Pryor is averaging 21.2 points and 7.0 rebounds to lead the way for the defending NEC Champions.
SERIES HISTORY
Monday will be the first-ever meeting between the teams.
COLUMBIA VS. THE NEC
Columbia has fared well against teams currently in the Northeast Conference, posting a 34-23 mark all-time. The Lions' have squared off against St. Francis Brooklyn on 19 occasions (10-9).
THE FORCE AWAKENS
Junior Luke Petrasek buried a game-winning 3-pointer with 6.4 seconds left to propel Columbia to a 72-71 win at Manhattan on Dec. 9. Petrasek netted a career-high 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting against the Jaspers.
CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK
Columbia closes out the fall semester with a trio of high-quality opponents. The Lions edged two-time defending MAAC Champions Manhattan on Wednesday and will take on NJIT, who reached the semifinals of the 2015 CIT Saturday. Columbia's last contest before finals will feature last year's NEC Champions, Robert Morris.
FROM DOWNTOWN
Columbia has been relient on the 3-point shot this season with over half (47.5 percent) of its attempts coming from beyond the arc. The Lions' 298 attempts are the third most and 112 makes are fourth highest in the NCAA. In addition, their 10.2 per game put them 20th in that category.
CHARITY (STRIPE) CASE
The Lions' 253 attempts from the free throw line are the seventh most in the nation. Columbia has knocked down 176 of those tries (69.6 percent) to put them 13th in the country. Alex Rosenberg is the main catalyst from the line, knocking down 54-of-76 to put him in the top-15 nationally (10th and 11th) in makes and attempts.
DO YOU NEED ASSISTANCE?
Columbia has been sharing the ball well all season and are averaging 16.7 assists per game to lead the Ivy League. The Lions assisted on 18 of their 20 field goals in a win over Bucknell on Dec. 2.
