Wednesday, March 23 | 7 p.m. | Levien Gymnasium
CIT QUARTERFINALS
Ball State (22-13)
Columbia (22-10)
JOIN LIONS FANS FOR PREGAME EVENT AT THE HEIGHTSPrior to the game on Wednesday Columbia Athletics and the Columbia Alumni Association will host an event The Heights Bar & Grill from 5:30-6:30 p.m. This event is FREE with the purchase of a ticket to the contest. For more information and to RSVP, click here.
THE STORYLINES
COLUMBIA'S STATUS
The Lions opened postseason play with a resounding 86-54 victory over Norfolk State. Columbia received a bye into the quarterfinals, due to the fact that only 26 teams qualified for the tournament and the top three remaining seeds with automatically advance past the second round. The Lions were the No. 3 overall team, based on KenPom.com's ranking system, checking in behind UC Irvine and UT Arlington.
BALL STATE'S STATUS
The Cardinals have posted back-to-back overtime wins to reach the CIT quarterfinals. Ball State overcame an 11-point deficit with 1:56 on the clock to extend the game and took the lead for good after a pair of free thorws in the extra period with 54.5 seconds to go. Franko House leads a balanced scoring attack, averaging 12.2 points per game. Francis Kiapway is the Cardinals' top 3-point threat, shooting 42.0 percent from beyond the arc. Bo Calhoun averages 8.6 rebounds and 10.7 points per contest.
SERIES HISTORY
Wednesday will be the first meeting between the schools.
COLUMBIA VS. THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
The Lions are 1-3 against teams currently in the Mid-American Conference. Coincidentally, Columbia's only win against a MAC foe came against Eastern Michigan in the second round of the 2014 CIT.
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 18-21 Quarterfinals - March 22-24 Semifinals - March 27 (CBS Sports Network) Championship - March 29 (CBS Sports Network)
WHAT'S ON THE LINE
Not only will the Lions be playing for a trip to the CIT semifinals on Sunday, but here are a few additional milestones Columbia can achieve with a win over Ball State.
• 23 victories would tie the program record for wins, originally set in the 1950-51 campaign.
• 16 home victories would break the all-time mark for home wins in a season.
• 13 non-conference wins would tie the single-season record established in 2013-14.
POSTSEASON SUPERLATIVES
Columbia's 86-54 win over Norfolk State was the most lopsided victory in its postseason history. The Lions also dished for 21 assists, which was also a new postseason record.
DEATH, TAXES, LO BREAKING RECORDS Maodo Lo became Columbia's single-season leader in 3-pointers made when he hit his 88th of the year against Norfolk State on Mar. 16. The old mark of 87 was held by C.J. Thompkins, who accomplished the feat in 1996-97.
THE FRIENDLY CONFINES...
Of Levien Gymnasium have helped the Lions post 15 home victories, the most in the history of the venue that opened its doors in 1974. The win over Norfolk State tied the overall program record for home victories, originially established in 1950-51.
