FAMILY FOUR PACK!
Columbia is offering four tickets to Sunday's game for just $30 (or buy one get one free). Don't miss out on this opportunity to see postseason basketball in Manhattan! Get your tickets online at gocolumbialions.com/tickets.
THE STORYLINES
COLUMBIA'S STATUS
The Lions rallied from six points down in the second half to come away with a 69-67 victory over Ball Stat Wednesday night. Luke Petrasek knocked down a pair of free throws with 48 seconds remaining to give Columbia its first lead of the half, came up with a huge rejection on the next possession to help the Lions advance to the CIT semifinals.
NJIT'S STATUS
The Highlanders are making their second consecutive CIT semifinals appearance. NJIT held off UT Arlington, 63-60, on Thursday.
Damon Lynn leads four double-figure scorers, checking in at 18.4 points per game. Tim Coleman is the Highlanders' best post player and averages 13.9 points and 7.3 rebounds.
SERIES HISTORY
Columbia is 5-0 all-time against the Highlanders. The Lions and NJIT
COLUMBIA VS. THE ATLANTIC SUN
The Lions hold a 7-3 record against teams currently in the Atlantic Sun. Columbia's most common foe in the league is NJIT.
WHAT'S ON THE LINE
Not only will the Lions be playing for a trip to the CIT finals, but here are a few additional milestones Columbia can achieve with a win over NJIT.
• 24 victories would break the program record for wins, originally set in the 1950-51 campaign (23).
• 14 non-conference wins would break the single-season record established in 2013-14.
• Kyle Smith's 100th career victory.
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.
THE FRIENDLY CONFINES...
Of Levien Gymnasium have helped the Lions post 16 home victories, the most in program history.
THE SMITH ERA
Over the last five-plus seasons with Kyle Smith as the Lions' head coach, Columbia has won 99 games, the most in such a span since Columbia posted 106 wins from 1949-50 season to 1954-55. It is also equals the most for a Lions coach in his first five-plus seasons at the helm since Lou Rossini notched 99 wins from 1950-55.
