Columbia
Marist
Lions Take On Marist Saturday
12/26/2019 11:05:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Columbia will play its first home game in nearly a month when the Red Foxes come to town for a 2 p.m. tilt.
OPENING TIP-OFF
• Columbia is back at home for the first time in nearly a month when it faces Marist Saturday afternoon.
• The Lions will aim to stop a four-game skid and remain unbeaten in Levien Gymnasium (2-0).
• Mike Smith has scored 20 or more points in eight consecutive games, which is the longest active streak in the nation. He is the first Columbia player to accomplish that feat since David Newmark did so in 13-straight during the 1965-66 season.
NEWS/NOTES
MARIST'S STATUS
The Red Foxes has dropped eight in a row after topping VMI in their season opener. Michael Cubbage is the lone player averaging in double-figures at 10.8 points per game. He also averages 5.0 rebounds per contest.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Columbia is 1-6 all-time against Marist. Last year, the Red Foxes came away with an 82-76 victory in Poughkeepsie in both teams' season debuts. The Lions' only win in the series came in 2008, a 63-58 triumph at Madison Square Garden.
COLUMBIA VS. THE MAAC
Columbia holds a 24-27 record against teams currently in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The Lions most common opponent is Manhattan, who it has faced 24 times (15-9). Earlier this season, Columbia fell to Rider at the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena.
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 (22.0 - 10th, No. 1 in Ivy League), 3-point field goal percentage (42.7 percent - 38th, leads Ivy League) and minutes per game (36:21 - 27th). He is also second in the Ancient Eight, dishing out 5.0 assists per game. Additionally, Smith is 12th in the NCAA in total points with 264.
LIONS TESTING THEMSELVES
According to the NCAA's NET rankings released Dec. 25, Columbia has posted the 66th toughest non-conference schedule in the nation. That is second only to Penn (No. 15) 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 86-54 (.614 winning percentage) as of Dec. 26.
MILESTONES REACHED
Mike Smith posted his 1,000th point and entered Columbia's top-10 list for career assists at Wake Forest on Nov. 10. The senior is currently 11th on the Lions' all-time scoring list (1,233) is No. 4 with 319 assists and has the 10th highest career scoring average (16.6 PPG) in school history.
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.
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