NEW YORK - The Columbia men's basketball team is back in action to take on Colgate Sunday, December 22 at 12 p.m. in Hamilton, New York. The game will be shown live on the Patriot League Network.
 

OPENING TIP-OFF

• Columbia returns to action after a 13-day layoff due to final exams.

• The Lions wrap up a four-game road swing before returning home for three of their final four non-conference tilts.

• Mike Smith has scored 20 or more points in seven consecutive games and in nine of 11 contests this season. He is the first Columbia player to accomplish that feat since Jim McMillian did so in seven-straight during the 1969-70 season.

NEWS/NOTES

COLGATE'S STATUS
The Raiders pulled off a 67-66 victory at Cincinnati last Saturday and have won seven of their last eight contests. Jordan Burns leads five Colgate players averaging double-figures in scoring at 15.3 points per game. Rapolas Ivanauskas is pulling down 7.5 boards to go with 13.0 points per contest.

INSIDE THE SERIES
Columbia is 18-11 all-time against Colgate in a series that began in the 1923-24 season. The Lions dropped a 64-62 decision at Levien Gymnasium last December. Columbia erased an 11-point deficit and led 62-61, but were held scoreless over the final 3:38. Francisco Amile hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 1:41 left in regulation to cap the scoring. The last five meetings between the schools have been decided by six or fewer points, including two overtime games.

COLUMBIA VS. THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Lions are 130-104 against teams currently in the conference. Columbia's most common opponent is Army, who they have faced 59 times. The Lions fell to Lafayette, 65-63, in their season opener on Nov. 5.

IF I COULD BE LIKE MIKE
Senior Mike Smith is doing it all for Columbia this season. He is ranked among the top-50 nationally in points per game (21.9 - 10th), 3-point field goal percentage (44.9 percent - 33rd) and minutes per game (36:15 - 27th). Smith is also eighth in the NCAA in total points with 219.

LIONS TESTING THEMSELVES
According to the NCAA's NET rankings released Dec. 18, Columbia has posted the 46th toughest non-conference schedule in the nation. That is second only to Penn (No. 25) in the Ivy League. The Lions have faced three Quadrant I opponents (Duquesne, St. John's, Virginia) on the year, tying Princeton for the most in that category. Columbia's opponents are a combined 72-42 (.632 winning percentage) as of Dec. 19.

THE IVY LEAGUE ON ESPN+
All home Columbia games and most Ivy League road contests will air on ESPN+ as part of The Ivy League's new partnership with ESPN. ESPN+ is a new, subscription-based service that offers monthly ($4.99) and yearly ($49.99) plans. Click here to subscribe to ESPN+ and start your free trial! Click here for frequently asked questions about the Ivy League on ESPN.

FOLLOW COLUMBIA ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For the latest on the Columbia men's basketball, follow @CULionsMBB on Twitter and Instagram, and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.