Thursday, January 4
New York, N.Y.
7:00 P.M.
Columbia University
vs
Mount Saint Vincent
Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Lem Photography
Men's Basketball Hosts Mount Saint Vincent on Thursday Night
1/3/2024 11:30:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Lions set for final non-conference bout against the Dolphins
NEW YORK — Columbia men's basketball opens 2024 on Thursday night in its final non-conference game of the season against Mount Saint Vincent at 7 p.m. from Schiller Court at Levien Gymnasium.
Thursday's matchup between the Lions (8-4) and Dolphins (4-9) can be followed via live stats or watched live on ESPN+.
Opening Tip-Off
The Lions led for the first 33 minutes of Saturday's game at Fordham, but fell to a Rams comeback, 87-78, at Rose Hill Gymnasium in the second annual Tom Konchalski Classic.
After starting the season 0-2, Columbia has won eight of its last 10 games. The Lions had won eight of their first 11 games to start the season for the first time since 1978. Columbia has also already passed last season's win total.
Following Thursday's tilt with the Dolphins, Columbia shifts focus to Ivy League play starting on Tuesday at Cornell.
Morningside Hoops Podcast Returns
The Morningside Hoops podcast presented by Jag Physical Therapy has returned for a sixth season. The podcast features student-athletes from Columbia University's men's and women's basketball programs.
In the first episode of the season, hosts Kyle Mattracion and Aliyah Funschelle sat down with men's basketball's Avery Brown (Beacon Falls, Conn.) and Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa (Santiago, Dominican Republic) to talk about the team's first 8-3 start since 1978-79. Later, newcomers Riley Weiss (Hewlett, N.Y.) and Cecelia Collins (Scranton, Pa.) discuss the women's basketball's 7-4 start, including wins over power-conference opponents.
The Morningside Hoops podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud and all major podcast platforms.
News/Notes
Last Time Out
Columbia led for the first 33 minutes of Saturday's game, but fell to a Fordham comeback, 87-78, at Rose Hill Gymnasium in the second annual Tom Konchalski Classic. It's the most points the Lions have allowed this season. Zavian McLean poured in a game-best and season-high 19 points. Josh Odunowo contributed 12 points and eight boards, while Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa added nine points and seven assists. Jaden Cooper had a career-high six rebounds. Fordham shot 60 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes and outscored Columbia, 56-40, in the half.
In The New York Groove
Columbia is averaging 82.5 points per game in wins this season. The Lions have the second-largest scoring margin (11.4) and third-most assists (190) in the Ivy League. Columbia leads the conference in steals (101) and steals per game (9.2). Columbia is second in opponent turnovers (160). The Lions lead the league and rank 40th in the country in opponent 3-point field goal percentage (28.8). Columbia's six-game winning streak earlier this season was the program's longest since January 2016.
Fast Facts
The Lions are one of four teams in the country that return more than 90% of their scoring this season, along with Northern Iowa, Wisconsin, and St. Bonaventure. Columbia is also one of 11 teams in the country to return at least 70 percent of its points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks from 2022-23.
Well-Balanced Attack
Through the first 12 games this season, Columbia has had at least four players finish with double-figures scoring six times. Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa (13.8), Avery Brown (11.5), and Blair Thompson (10.0) are all averaging double-figures scoring to start the year.
Free Throw Frenzy
Columbia is 185-234 (79.1 percent) from the free throw line this season. That mark is second in the Ivy League and ranks sixth in the country. Zavian McLean (16-19), Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa (48-54), Noah Robledo (11-12), and Blair Thompson (21-26) are all above 80 percent from the charity stripe.
Columbia went 28-39 from the line on Nov. 21 against LIU. It was the most attempted free throws by the Lions since Feb. 23, 2018 vs. Brown and the highest mark in head coach Jim Engles' tenure.
Lions Trending Upward
With the Lions being over .500 on the season after a win at Temple on Nov. 18, it was the first time since Feb. 4, 2017 that Columbia has had a winning record. Columbia has won five straight games for the first time since Jan. 6-30, 2016. The Lions have also scored at least 75 points in six straight games for the first time since Jan. 20-Feb. 10, 2018.
De La Rosa Dominance
Junior guard Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa has built off his strong sophomore campaign to start this season. The Santiago, Dominican Republic native had scored in double-figures in nine straight games dating back to last season before dropping eight points on Nov. 15. He has scored double-figures in 10 out of 12 games this season. De La Rosa played a strong all-around game in 2022-23, leading the Lions and ranking among the Ivy League leaders in scoring (13.6), rebounding (5.6) and steals (1.4). His 713 points through his first two seasons are the third-most all-time in program history for a player's first two years.
De La Rosa recorded 22 double-figures scoring games last season, including six straight to close out the year. He scored in double-figures in 12 out of the team's 14 Ivy League games last season. De La Rosa was one of four Lions to play in all 29 games last season and Avery Brown was the only other Lion to start in every game. De La Rosa's 88.8 percent mark from the free throw line last season led the Ivy League and ranked No. 16 in the country. His mark from the charity stripe also ranked third all-time in a single season behind Brian Barbour, who did it twice (.917, 2010-11 and .901, 2011-12).
Scouting Mount Saint Vincent
The Dolphins enter Thursday's contest at 4-9 (2-2) coming off a 10-point road victory at Sarah Lawrence on Tuesday. Head coach James Mooney is the school's all-time leading scorer and both his current assistants played under him at UMSV. Joshua Cabezudo leads the team with 17.3 points per game.
Series History - Mount Saint Vincent
The Lions and Dolphins meet for the third time on Thursday. Columbia won the previous two meetings by a large margin at home in 2020 and 2021.
Up Next
Following the matchup vs. Mount Saint Vincent, the Lions open Ivy League play on Tuesday at Cornell. Tip from Newman Arena at Bartels Hall is set for 6 p.m.
Preseason Ivy League Poll
The Lions were predicted to finish eighth in the preseason Ivy League poll, conducted by selected members of the media.
Follow The Lions
For the latest on Columbia men's basketball, follow @CULionsMBB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, or on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Thursday's matchup between the Lions (8-4) and Dolphins (4-9) can be followed via live stats or watched live on ESPN+.
Opening Tip-Off
The Lions led for the first 33 minutes of Saturday's game at Fordham, but fell to a Rams comeback, 87-78, at Rose Hill Gymnasium in the second annual Tom Konchalski Classic.
After starting the season 0-2, Columbia has won eight of its last 10 games. The Lions had won eight of their first 11 games to start the season for the first time since 1978. Columbia has also already passed last season's win total.
Following Thursday's tilt with the Dolphins, Columbia shifts focus to Ivy League play starting on Tuesday at Cornell.
Special Performance by the Marching Cobras
The mission of Marching Cobras is to enrich the lives of teens by providing opportunities for artistic expression and teen development through music, marching, dance entertainment. The Cobras will have special performances throughout Thursday's game.
Morningside Hoops Podcast Returns
The Morningside Hoops podcast presented by Jag Physical Therapy has returned for a sixth season. The podcast features student-athletes from Columbia University's men's and women's basketball programs.
𝙎𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙚 🎙️
— Columbia Athletics (@GoColumbiaLions) December 15, 2023
The Morningside Hoops Podcast is back!
Ep. 1 Guests:@CULionsMBB | Avery Brown, Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa@CULionsWBB | Cecelia Collins, Riley Weiss
Listen on @Spotify
🎧 https://t.co/G1YCY0Jq1F#RoarLionRoar 🦁 | #OnlyHere 🗽 pic.twitter.com/rSbD8Sk3Uy
In the first episode of the season, hosts Kyle Mattracion and Aliyah Funschelle sat down with men's basketball's Avery Brown (Beacon Falls, Conn.) and Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa (Santiago, Dominican Republic) to talk about the team's first 8-3 start since 1978-79. Later, newcomers Riley Weiss (Hewlett, N.Y.) and Cecelia Collins (Scranton, Pa.) discuss the women's basketball's 7-4 start, including wins over power-conference opponents.
The Morningside Hoops podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud and all major podcast platforms.
News/Notes
Last Time Out
Columbia led for the first 33 minutes of Saturday's game, but fell to a Fordham comeback, 87-78, at Rose Hill Gymnasium in the second annual Tom Konchalski Classic. It's the most points the Lions have allowed this season. Zavian McLean poured in a game-best and season-high 19 points. Josh Odunowo contributed 12 points and eight boards, while Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa added nine points and seven assists. Jaden Cooper had a career-high six rebounds. Fordham shot 60 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes and outscored Columbia, 56-40, in the half.
In The New York Groove
Columbia is averaging 82.5 points per game in wins this season. The Lions have the second-largest scoring margin (11.4) and third-most assists (190) in the Ivy League. Columbia leads the conference in steals (101) and steals per game (9.2). Columbia is second in opponent turnovers (160). The Lions lead the league and rank 40th in the country in opponent 3-point field goal percentage (28.8). Columbia's six-game winning streak earlier this season was the program's longest since January 2016.
Fast Facts
The Lions are one of four teams in the country that return more than 90% of their scoring this season, along with Northern Iowa, Wisconsin, and St. Bonaventure. Columbia is also one of 11 teams in the country to return at least 70 percent of its points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks from 2022-23.
Well-Balanced Attack
Through the first 12 games this season, Columbia has had at least four players finish with double-figures scoring six times. Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa (13.8), Avery Brown (11.5), and Blair Thompson (10.0) are all averaging double-figures scoring to start the year.
Free Throw Frenzy
Columbia is 185-234 (79.1 percent) from the free throw line this season. That mark is second in the Ivy League and ranks sixth in the country. Zavian McLean (16-19), Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa (48-54), Noah Robledo (11-12), and Blair Thompson (21-26) are all above 80 percent from the charity stripe.
Columbia went 28-39 from the line on Nov. 21 against LIU. It was the most attempted free throws by the Lions since Feb. 23, 2018 vs. Brown and the highest mark in head coach Jim Engles' tenure.
Lions Trending Upward
With the Lions being over .500 on the season after a win at Temple on Nov. 18, it was the first time since Feb. 4, 2017 that Columbia has had a winning record. Columbia has won five straight games for the first time since Jan. 6-30, 2016. The Lions have also scored at least 75 points in six straight games for the first time since Jan. 20-Feb. 10, 2018.
De La Rosa Dominance
Junior guard Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa has built off his strong sophomore campaign to start this season. The Santiago, Dominican Republic native had scored in double-figures in nine straight games dating back to last season before dropping eight points on Nov. 15. He has scored double-figures in 10 out of 12 games this season. De La Rosa played a strong all-around game in 2022-23, leading the Lions and ranking among the Ivy League leaders in scoring (13.6), rebounding (5.6) and steals (1.4). His 713 points through his first two seasons are the third-most all-time in program history for a player's first two years.
De La Rosa recorded 22 double-figures scoring games last season, including six straight to close out the year. He scored in double-figures in 12 out of the team's 14 Ivy League games last season. De La Rosa was one of four Lions to play in all 29 games last season and Avery Brown was the only other Lion to start in every game. De La Rosa's 88.8 percent mark from the free throw line last season led the Ivy League and ranked No. 16 in the country. His mark from the charity stripe also ranked third all-time in a single season behind Brian Barbour, who did it twice (.917, 2010-11 and .901, 2011-12).
Scouting Mount Saint Vincent
The Dolphins enter Thursday's contest at 4-9 (2-2) coming off a 10-point road victory at Sarah Lawrence on Tuesday. Head coach James Mooney is the school's all-time leading scorer and both his current assistants played under him at UMSV. Joshua Cabezudo leads the team with 17.3 points per game.
Series History - Mount Saint Vincent
The Lions and Dolphins meet for the third time on Thursday. Columbia won the previous two meetings by a large margin at home in 2020 and 2021.
Up Next
Following the matchup vs. Mount Saint Vincent, the Lions open Ivy League play on Tuesday at Cornell. Tip from Newman Arena at Bartels Hall is set for 6 p.m.
Preseason Ivy League Poll
The Lions were predicted to finish eighth in the preseason Ivy League poll, conducted by selected members of the media.
Follow The Lions
For the latest on Columbia men's basketball, follow @CULionsMBB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, or on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Players Mentioned
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