Columbia University
Delaware
Columbia Sets Sights on Delaware Sunday
11/29/2018 2:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Lions will look to make it two in a row when they welcome the Blue Hens to Levien Gymnasium.
OPENING TIP-OFF
• The Lions picked up their first victory of the season, an 85-38 triumph over St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) last Sunday. Columbia knocked down a team record 17 3-pointers in the win.
• Gabe Stefanini dropped 23 points, going 7-of-9 from 3-point range, in just 15 minutes of action (all in the first half) against the Bears. Stefanini is now second in the conference in scoring (16.2 PPG) and is No. 14 in the NCAA in 3-point field goal percentage (55.6 percent).
• Randy Brumant also had a standout game, registering his first career double-double with 10 points and 19 rebounds. The 19 boards were the most for a Lion since Mark Cisco pulled down 20 against Cornell in 2012.
NEWS/NOTES
DELAWARE'S STATUS
The Blue Hens check in as winners of five of their last six heading into a Friday night contests at Maryland-Eastern Shore. Forward Eric Carter is averaging 18.6 points, on 65.8 percent shooting from the floor, to go with 8.7 rebounds - both lead the team. Kevin Anderson is posting 13.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists from the point guard position. Ithiel Horton is Delaware's top 3-point threat, knocking down 42.9 percent from beyond the arc.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Columbia is 2-5 all-time in the series with Delaware that dates back to the 1981-82 season. The Lions are coming off an 82-69 win in Levien Gymnasium in 2015 to snap a five-game skid against the Blue Hens.
COLUMBIA VS. THE CAA
The Lions are 7-20 all-time against teams currently in the Colonial Athletic Conference. Columbia has faced Hofstra 11 times, the most of any CAA squad, and has not played a team from the conference since the Pride visited Levien during the 2016-17 campaign.
STEFANINI MAGNIFICO
Gabe Stefanini has eclipsed the 20-point marker in two of his last three games. Against FIU on Nov. 17, the sophomore dropped 33 points - the most by a Columbia player since Maodo Lo had 37 at Princeton in March 2016. Stefanini is also coming off an extremely efficient 23-point effort in just 15 minutes against St. Joseph's (Brooklyn), going 7-of-9 from 3-point range.
MEN IN THE MIDDLE
Columbia is receiving solid production from all three players - Ike Nweke, Patrick Tapé and Randy Brumant - that have played the "five spot" this season. The trio has helped the Lions take the Ivy League league in team rebounding (39.0), rebounding margin (+5.8) and offensive rebounds (12.2).
• Nweke was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week after posting 17 points and seven boards at Marist in his collegiate debut. He is averaging 8.4 points, on 51.9 percent shooting from the floor, and 5.3 rebounds.
• Tapé is converting on 76.9 percent of his attempts, and is posting 6.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in just 10.8 minutes per contest as he works his way back from a minor knee injury suffered during the preseason.
• After seeing limited action in 2017-18, Brumant is taking advantage of a bigger role. The Houston, Texas, native boasts averages of 6.2 points and 8.2 rebounds, which currently leads the Ivy League, to go with a 55.6 percent clip from the field. His 19 rebounds against St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) on Nov. 25 was the most for a Lion since Mark Cisco pulled down 20 in a game against Cornell in 2012.
IF I COULD BE LIKE MIKE
After another summer of training with NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler, point guard Mike Smith is having a strong start to his junior campaign.
• He ranks tied for fifth in the Ivy League in scoring (15.8 PPG), leads the Ancient Eight in assists (5.0) and is third in steals (1.8).
• The 2018 All-Ivy Leaguer dropped a career-high 31 points against Youngstown State on Nov. 17 and tied a career-high with eight assists in the season opener at Marist on Nov. 10.
• Smith now has 922 career points, which puts him on pace to become the 29th Columbia player to reach 1,000 points.
