Columbia
Sacred Heart
Columbia Returns Home to Face Sacred Heart
12/12/2021 9:45:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Lions and Pioneers will meet for the first time since 2009 Monday night.
Tickets can be purchased by clicking here or calling 888-LIONS-11. Please find Columbia's detailed venue policies here. The game can also be seen live on ESPN+.
OPENING TIP-OFF
• Columbia nearly pulled off a miraculous comeback, erasing a 21-point first-half deficit, but fell at UAlbany, 60-59. The Lions took the lead with 29 seconds left in regulation, however, the Great Danes earned a trip to the line and sank a pair of free throws with 3.6 seconds to go to preserve the win.
• The Lions and Pioneers will meet in the second game of a double header at Schiller Court, following the women's contest against LIU.
• Columbia will have 15 days between games due to final exams and the holidays before wrapping up non-conference play against Maryland-Eastern Shore on December 28.
NEWS/NOTES
SACRED HEART'S STATUS
The Pioneers will aim to snap a mini-two game slide and have been off since falling at Rhode Island, 79-66. Tyler Thomas leads the squad, registering 20.4 points per game. Aaron Clarke is right behind, notching 17.0 points per game on 44.0 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
INSIDE THE SERIES
The all-time series between Columbia and Sacred Heart is knotted at 4-4. The Pioneers have taken the last three decisions, but the programs have not faced off since a 60-55 SHU triumph in Fairfield on Nov. 30, 2009. The first meeting between the schools came on Dec. 2, 2003, with the Lions taking an 85-79 overtime victory on the road.
COLUMBIA VS. THE NEC
Columbia has fared well against teams currently in the Northeast Conference, posting a 35-24 mark all-time. The Lions' have squared off against St. Francis Brooklyn on 19 occasions (10-9), the most of any NEC squad.
NWEKE BACK
Senior forward Ike Nweke returned from a nine-game absence while recovering from lower body injury suffered in the season-opener at Fordham. The senior tied a career-high with 18 points and posted a personal-best three steals in 32 minutes off the bench at UAlbany in his return.
TIGHTENING THE LEASH
Columbia had its best defensive effort of the season against UAlbany, limiting the Great Danes to 60 points and 38.3 percent shooting from the floor - both season lows. The Lions were even better in the second half, holding UAlbany without a field goal over the final 7:42 and just 1-of-10 from beyond the arc.
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