NEW YORK - The Columbia men's basketball team returns to the friendly confines of Levien Gymnasium this weekend when it hosts Penn on Friday, February 7, and Princeton on Saturday, February 8. Both games are slated for 7 p.m. tip-offs on ESPN+. Saturday night's contest against the Tigers can also be seen on SNY and NBC Sports Philly +.
 

OPENING TIP-OFF

• Columbia dropped a pair of games on the road, falling to first-place Yale, 93-62, before a tough, 72-66, defeat at Brown.

• Mike Smith ranks No. 17 in the NCAA, averaging 20.7 points per game, and has led the Lions in scoring in 18 of 20 games this season.

• Columbia will make its first appearance of the season on SNY Saturday night when they welcome Princeton into town.

• The Lions will hit the road to face Dartmouth and Harvard next weekend (Feb. 14-15).

NEWS/NOTES

PENN'S STATUS
The Quakers had a huge bounce-back weekend, topping Harvard and Dartmouth to even their Ivy League record at 2-2. AJ Brodeur leads the team, averaging 16.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.7 blocks. Jordan Dingle is the reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Week and checks in posting 14.6 points per contest.

INSIDE THE SERIES - PENN
Columbia is 92-143 all-time against Penn. Last season, the teams traded two-point road victories. Four of the last five meetings have been decided by six or fewer points withe Penn going 3-2 in those contests.

PRINCETON'S STATUS
The Tigers remained undefeated in Ivy League play with a sweep of Dartmouth and Harvard at home. Princeton has won six-straight heading into this weekend's action. Jaelin Llewellyn leads a balanced attack, registering 14.1 points per game. Richmond Aririguzoh checks in at 13.4 points, on 61.3 percent shooting from the field, to go with 8.6 rebounds.

INSIDE THE SERIES - PRINCETON
The Lions are 86-155 against the Tigers all-time. Princeton swept Columbia last season and are winners of 10 of the past 11 contests.

CH-CH-CHANGES...
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
For the latest on the Columbia men's basketball, follow @CULionsMBB on Twitter and Instagram, and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.