Wednesday, March 16 | 7 p.m. | Levien Gymnasium
CIT FIRST ROUND
PRESENTED BY MORTON WILLIAMS
Norfolk State (17-16)
Columbia (21-10)
PREGAME EVENT AT BERNHEIM & SCHWARTZ!
Columbia Athletics and the Columbia Alumni Association will also host a pre-game event for all Lions fans at Bernheim and Schwartz from 5:30–6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and include your game ticket along with food and drinks. Purchase your ticket online by clicking here.
THE STORYLINES
COLUMBIA'S STATUS
The Lions are making their second postseason appearance in three years. Columbia finished with a 21-10 overall record, the most regular season wins since 1950-51, and a 10-4 mark in Ivy League play, the best conference recrord since 1993.
NORFOLK STATE'S STATUS
The Spartans are making their fifth consecutive postseason appearance after posting a 17-16 overall record, including a 12-4 mark in conference play to finish second in the regular season standings.
Jeff Short, a two-time first team All-MEAC selection, averages 15.6 points and is a 81.8 percent shooter from the charity stripe. Jordan Butler provides a solid inside presence, leading the team in rebounding (6.7 RPG) and blocks (2.2 BPG).
SERIES HISTORY
Wednesday will be the first meeting between the schools.
COLUMBIA VS. THE MEAC
The Lions are 6-3 against teams currently in the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference. Columbia has already defeated Howard on Dec. 28 and Maryland-Eastern Shore on Jan. 6 earlier this season. The Lions have faced North Carolina Central three times, the most of any MEAC foe (0-3).
THE CIT HISTORY/FORMAT
This year marks the eighth year of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. There is no bracket. Teams will be regrouped after each round of the tournament and next round opponents will be decided by geographic region.
2016 CIT SCHEDULE
First Round - March 14-16
Second Round - March 18-20
Quarterfinals - March 22-24
Semifinals - March 27 (CBS Sports Network)
Championship - March 29 (CBS Sports Network)
SENIOR MOMENTS
As a group, Columbia's four seniors have compiled 67 victories, the most of any graduating class since the Class of 1953 (78 wins). They are also the first collection of Columbia players to win at every Ivy League venue since the Class of 1993.
THE THREE AMIGOS
Three Columbia players were recognized with All-Ivy League honors for the 2015-16 season, led by the second consecutive unanimous First Team selection of starting guard Maodo Lo. Fellow seniors Grant Mullins (second team) and Alex Rosenberg (honorable mention) were also rewarded by the league's coaches for their performance this season. The three all-league selections is the most for Columbia since the 1967-68 Ivy League Championship season.
LO HEADING TOWARDS ANOTHER RECORD
Maodo Lo is four 3-pointers shy of setting a Columbia single-season record. The mark of 87 is currently held by C.J. Thompkins, who accomplished the feat in 1996-97.
REACHING NEW HEIGHTS
Columbia reached the 20-win plateau for just the second time since 1969-70, the last time coming during the 2013-14 campaign. The Lions have won 21 regular season games for the first time since 1950-51 (23). The 10 Ivy League victories was the most for the program since 1993.
