NEW YORK - Columbia men's basketball opens up its first full Ivy League weekend with a pair of road contests at Yale (Friday, January 31 at 7 p.m.) and Brown (Saturday, February at 6 p.m.). Both games will be shown live on ESPN+.
   

OPENING TIP-OFF

• Columbia settled for a season split with Cornell after a 62-50 defeat in Ithaca last Saturday. The Lions shot just 31 percent from the floor and 5-of-23 from 3-point range.

• Mike Smith ranks No. 15 in the NCAA, averaging 20.7 points per game, and has led the Lions in scoring in 16 of 18 games this season.

• Columbia swept the Brown-Yale road weekend last season, picking up an 80-77 win in Providence and an 83-75 triumph in New Haven.

• The Lions will return home to take on Penn and Princeton next weekend (Feb. 6-7).

 

NEWS/NOTES

YALE'S STATUS
The Bulldogs have won four in a row and 11 of their last 12, the lone loss a three-point defeat at North Carolina. They sit atop the Ivy League standings after a two-game sweep of Brown the past two weekends. Paul Atkinson leads three players averaging in double-figures at 16.9 points per game while shooting 63.4 percent from the floor and adding 74. rebounds per contest. Jordan Bruner paces the team, pulling down 9.6 rebounds to go with 12.2 points per game.

INSIDE THE SERIES - YALE
Columbia is 126-111 against the Bulldogs in a series that dates back to 1901-02. The Lions win at Payne Whitney Gym last year snapped a seven-game skid against Yale.

BROWN'S STATUS
The Bears host Cornell Friday night looking to avoid an 0-3 start in Ivy League play. Prior to the Ancient Eight, Brown won back-to-back contests against Rhode Island and Johnson & Wales. Brandon Anderson trails only Mike Smith in the Ivy League scoring race, checking in at 19.2 points per game. Tamenang Choh anchors the front court with 8.3 rebounds per game and averages 13.2 points.

INSIDE THE SERIES - BROWN
Columbia holds a 76-67 edge in the all-time series against the Bears. Last year, the teams traded road wins with Brown earning a 65-63 win in Levien Gym and the Lions claiming an 80-77 decision at the Pizzitola Sports Center.

IVY FORMAT CHANGE
Beginning in 2021, the Ivy League men's and women's basketball conference slate will take on a new form. Conference season will move from an eight-week to 10-week schedule. Next season, league play begins for all 16 teams on Jan. 2, 2021. The league's signature back-to-back weekends will be featured three times. The new format prioritizes and balance student-athlete time demands.

NEW COURT, WHO DIS?
Columbia announced that center court in Levien Gym will be dedicated in honor of Jonathan D. Schiller  '69CC '73LAW at halftime of the Lions' game against Yale on Saturday, Feb. 22. Schiller was a three-year letter winner and member of the 1967-68 Ivy League men's basketball championship team. He went on to co-found Boies Schiller Flexner LLP and oversees the firm's pro-bono program. He was appointed co-chair of the University Trustees in 2014 and served as sole chair from 2015-18. In 2017, Schiller was named an inaugural Legend of Ivy League Basketball for achievements and contributions to the Ivy League.

INSIDE COLUMBIA BASKETBALL PODCAST
Columbia hosts a weekly podcast featuring the men's and women's basketball programs. New episodes are available weekly on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher and SoundCloud. Search and subscribe for "Columbia Athletics."

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
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