NEW YORK - The Columbia men's basketball team returns to the road to face Colgate on December 6 for a 7 p.m. contest in Hamilton, New York. The Lions (3-6) and Raiders (3-5) will matchup for the 10th time in 12 seasons Monday. ESPN+ will broadcast the game live.
OPENING TIP-OFF
• The Lions halted a four-game losing streak after topping Maine, 77-66, Saturday afternoon. Columbia never trailed in the contest and led by as many as 20, but the Black Bears pulled within three in the second half before the Lions were able to put the game away down the stretch.
• Eddie Turner made his first career start Saturday and posted eight points, six assists and four steals in just his second game of the season. He previously missed Columbia's first eight games recovering from an injury.
• Columbia will play the first of two consecutive games in Upstate New York Monday. On Saturday, December 11, the Lions will head back up the Thruway to take on UAlbany.
NEWS/NOTES
COLGATE'S STATUS
Since topping Syracuse, 100-85, on Nov. 20, the Raiders have dropped three consecutive games, including an overtime defeat at Harvard. Nelly Cummings is the squad's top offensive threat, averaging 16.6 points per game and is a 51.0 percent shooter from downtown.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Columbia is 18-12 all-time against Colgate in a series that began in the 1923-24 season. The Raiders picked up an 89-71 victory in Hamilton the last time the schools met on Dec. 22, 2019. Five of the last six meetings between the schools have been decided by six or fewer points, including two overtime games.
COLUMBIA VS. THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Lions are 130-106 against teams currently in the conference. Columbia's most common opponent is Army, who they have faced 59 times. In 2019-20, the Lions are 0-2 this season against schools in the conference, falling to Lehigh on the road and Lafayette at home.
PAT ATTACK
Junior Patrick Harding has been a force on the glass over the past five games, averaging 12.4 rebounds during that span, pulling down double-figure boards four times. Against Maine, he recorded a career-high 15 points to go with 17 boards, which was the first time a Columbia player had a 15-point, 15-rebound performance since Mark Cisco (18 points, 20 rebounds) against Cornell on Jan. 21, 2012. For the season, he is third in the Ivy League, posting 8.4 boards per contest. Nationally, he is ranked ninth in the country in defensive rebounding percentage (31.6), according to KenPom. At Bryant in 2019-20, Harding set the program's Division I record for rebounds in a season and ranked second in the nation in rebounds per 40 minutes (18.5).
BUY TICKETS TO UPCOMING GAMES
Tickets for all men's basketball home games can be purchased by clicking here or calling 888-LIONS-11. Please find Columbia's detailed venue policies here.
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.
