Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Lem Photography
Men’s Basketball Hosts Stony Brook on Saturday and New Hampshire on Monday
11/22/2024 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Lions are 6-0 for the first time in 55 years; Aim for fourth straight home win to start a season for first time since 2010
NEW YORK — Columbia men's basketball looks to stay perfect this season when it welcomes Stony Brook on Saturday and New Hampshire on Monday. Both games will tip-off at 7 p.m. from Schiller Court at Levien Gymnasium.
Saturday's matchup between the Lions (6-0) and Seawolves (2-3) can be followed via live stats or watched live on SNY or ESPN+. Monday's game against the Wildcats (2-6) can also be followed via live stats or watched live on ESPN+. Lance Medow (play-by-play) and John Giannini (analyst) will have the call for both games. Click here or call 888-LIONS-11 to purchase tickets.
Opening Tip-Off
Columbia kept its perfect start to the season intact with an 80-72 victory at LIU on Wednesday inside Steinberg Wellness Center.
The Lions are 6-0 for the first time since Columbia's 1969 team, which started the season with 10 straight wins before finishing 20-5 (11-3).
Columbia's 487 points this season (81.2 per game) is the program's highest clip over the first six games of a season since 2015-16 (497 - 82.8).
Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa and Kenny Noland are the first Lions duo to record double-figures scoring in each of the first six games of a season since 2015-16. Grant Mullins and Alex Rosenberg each dropped 10 or more points in the first seven contests of that campaign.
The Lions return more than 78 percent of their scoring for the second straight season. Columbia also brings back at least 79 percent of its rebounds, assists, and steals from 2023-24. The Lions have the second-highest KenPom continuity rating in the country (73.4). The average continuity mark in the country is 33.9.
News/Notes
Last Time Out
Columbia led for over 36 minutes for the fourth straight game and pulled out an 80-72 victory on Wednesday despite letting LIU (2-3) get within a point with 28 seconds left. LIU went on a 7-0 run over a 30-second span in the final minute to make it 73-72.
Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa and Avery Brown each drained two free throws to put the game away from there. Rubio De La Rosa buried a three-pointer at the final buzzer to finish with a team-high 21 points and seal a Columbia 7-0 run. Brown chipped in 17 points and tallied five assists on the night.
Kenny Noland dropped 15 points and Blair Thompson added 12. Zine Eddine Bedri pulled down a game-high eight rebounds. Columbia was 21-23 from the free throw line.
Postgame Notes From Win at LIU
- Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa posted his 10th straight double-figures scoring game dating back to last season and his 15th career 20-point game on Wednesday. He has scored at least 20 points in five of six games this season.
- Rubio De La Rosa (1,205 career points) passed Matt Shannon for 18th place on Columbia's all-time scoring list.
- Columbia has led at the half in five straight games.
Inside the Analytics
Columbia's KenPom rating as of Nov. 22 is 157. The last time the Lions had a rating this high was on Nov. 23, 2019.
Rubio De La Rosa Dominance
Senior guard Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa is off to a scorching start this season, averaging 21.8 points over the first six wins in 2024-25. He is shooting 51.3 percent from the floor and 47.7 percent from three-point range.
Rubio De La Rosa's 131 points scored this season are the ninth-most in the country. The Santiago, Dominican Republic native ranks tied for 15th with 32 free throws made and his 21 three-pointers are tied for the fourth-most in the country. His 14 steals are tied for 14th in the nation.
Rubio De La Rosa was named to the Lou Henson Award Early-Season Watch List on Nov. 19 and to the inaugural Bracketeer.Org Non-Power Conference All-American Watch List on Oct. 31. He played a strong all-around game over 25 appearances (24 starts) in 2023-24 and was tabbed All-Ivy League Honorable Mention. Rubio De La Rosa averaged a team-best in points per game (14.4) for the second straight season and led Columbia in minutes per game (30.8), field goals made (116), three-pointers made (57), and steals (41). Rubio De La Rosa ranked in the top ten among Ivy League players in scoring, three-point field goal percentage, three-point field goals per game, and steals. The guard notched double-figures in 20 games and carries a four-game double-figure scoring streak into the 2024-25 season.
In February, Rubio De La Rosa became the 30th Lion in program history to score 1,000 points and the 16th to do so in his first three seasons.
Record Book Watch
- Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa (1,205 points) is 18th on Columbia's all-time scoring list.
- Rubio De La Rosa is second all-time in program history in three-pointers made (196). Maodo Lo (277) is the all-time leader in three-pointers made for the Lions.
- Rubio De La Rosa is second all-time in program history in three-pointers attempted (525). Maodo Lo (692) is the all-time leader in three-pointers attempted for the Lions.
- Rubio De La Rosa's .836 free throw percentage ranks third all-time in program history. He trails Brian Barbour (.897) and Chet Forte (.841).
- Rubio De La Rosa is fourth all-time in program history with 128 steals. He is 18 steals away from tying Sean Couch for third place.
Fast Break Points
- The 21-point win on Nov. 9 against Delaware State was the largest margin of victory against a D1 opponent at Levien Gymnasium since Dec. 7, 2018 vs. Bryant (90-68 win).
- It was also the largest margin of victory in a home opener since 2010 (108-74 win over Maryland Eastern Shore).
- Columbia received one vote in the Nov. 11 AP Top 25 Poll.
- It's likely the first AP Top 25 vote Columbia has gotten since 1970.
- Jim Engles was named National Coach of the Week by legendary ESPN analyst Dick Vitale on Nov. 11
- Last time Columbia won its first three home games in a season was 2019-20 (75-63 W vs. Binghamton on Nov. 13; 68-64 W vs. Lehigh on Nov. 30; 69-54 W vs. Marist on Dec. 28).
- Columbia is tied for 21st in the country in points scored (487) as of Nov. 21.
- Columbia had the third-biggest KenPom rating jump in the country during the first week of the season (209 to 148 – +61).
-Was their highest KenPom rating since Nov. 16, 2019 (147).
- On Nov. 11 Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa was the first Lion to be tabbed Lou Henson National Player of the Week. He was also tabbed Ivy League Player of the Week and Mid-Major Madness Men's Player of the Week.
- Blair Thompson posted his first career double-double in the Nov. 9 win over Delaware State, which included 12 points and a career-high 11 rebounds.
Series History - Stony Brook
Columbia is 7-12 all-time against the Seawolves but the two teams have not met since Dec. 7, 2017. Stony Brook earned a 76-66 win in New York City in that matchup. Columbia's most recent victory in the series was a season-opening 73-66 win on Nov. 11, 2016. It was head coach Jim Engles' first win at the helm of the Lions.
Series History - New Hampshire
Columbia is 4-1 all-time against the Wildcats and dropped its first game to New Hampshire last season on Dec. 3, 80-71. The Lions won the first four meetings in the series and most recently defeated the Wildcats on Dec. 3, 2022, 56-52.
Up Next
Columbia has a nine-day break through Thanksgiving before hitting the road to play UAlbany on Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m.
Preseason Ivy League Poll
The Lions were predicted to finish fifth in the preseason Ivy League poll, conducted by selected members of the media. It is the highest the Lions have been picked to finish since 2017, when they were also picked fifth. Columbia had been predicted to finish eighth the last three seasons.
Tickets on Sale
Single-game tickets for the 2024-25 Columbia men's basketball season are now on sale. Click here or call 888-LIONS-11 to purchase tickets.
Follow The Lions
For the latest on Columbia men's basketball, follow @CULionsMBB on X, Instagram or on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Saturday's matchup between the Lions (6-0) and Seawolves (2-3) can be followed via live stats or watched live on SNY or ESPN+. Monday's game against the Wildcats (2-6) can also be followed via live stats or watched live on ESPN+. Lance Medow (play-by-play) and John Giannini (analyst) will have the call for both games. Click here or call 888-LIONS-11 to purchase tickets.
Opening Tip-Off
Columbia kept its perfect start to the season intact with an 80-72 victory at LIU on Wednesday inside Steinberg Wellness Center.
The Lions are 6-0 for the first time since Columbia's 1969 team, which started the season with 10 straight wins before finishing 20-5 (11-3).
Columbia's 487 points this season (81.2 per game) is the program's highest clip over the first six games of a season since 2015-16 (497 - 82.8).
Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa and Kenny Noland are the first Lions duo to record double-figures scoring in each of the first six games of a season since 2015-16. Grant Mullins and Alex Rosenberg each dropped 10 or more points in the first seven contests of that campaign.
The Lions return more than 78 percent of their scoring for the second straight season. Columbia also brings back at least 79 percent of its rebounds, assists, and steals from 2023-24. The Lions have the second-highest KenPom continuity rating in the country (73.4). The average continuity mark in the country is 33.9.
News/Notes
Last Time Out
Columbia led for over 36 minutes for the fourth straight game and pulled out an 80-72 victory on Wednesday despite letting LIU (2-3) get within a point with 28 seconds left. LIU went on a 7-0 run over a 30-second span in the final minute to make it 73-72.
Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa and Avery Brown each drained two free throws to put the game away from there. Rubio De La Rosa buried a three-pointer at the final buzzer to finish with a team-high 21 points and seal a Columbia 7-0 run. Brown chipped in 17 points and tallied five assists on the night.
Kenny Noland dropped 15 points and Blair Thompson added 12. Zine Eddine Bedri pulled down a game-high eight rebounds. Columbia was 21-23 from the free throw line.
Postgame Notes From Win at LIU
- Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa posted his 10th straight double-figures scoring game dating back to last season and his 15th career 20-point game on Wednesday. He has scored at least 20 points in five of six games this season.
- Rubio De La Rosa (1,205 career points) passed Matt Shannon for 18th place on Columbia's all-time scoring list.
- Columbia has led at the half in five straight games.
Inside the Analytics
Columbia's KenPom rating as of Nov. 22 is 157. The last time the Lions had a rating this high was on Nov. 23, 2019.
Rubio De La Rosa Dominance
Senior guard Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa is off to a scorching start this season, averaging 21.8 points over the first six wins in 2024-25. He is shooting 51.3 percent from the floor and 47.7 percent from three-point range.
Rubio De La Rosa's 131 points scored this season are the ninth-most in the country. The Santiago, Dominican Republic native ranks tied for 15th with 32 free throws made and his 21 three-pointers are tied for the fourth-most in the country. His 14 steals are tied for 14th in the nation.
Rubio De La Rosa was named to the Lou Henson Award Early-Season Watch List on Nov. 19 and to the inaugural Bracketeer.Org Non-Power Conference All-American Watch List on Oct. 31. He played a strong all-around game over 25 appearances (24 starts) in 2023-24 and was tabbed All-Ivy League Honorable Mention. Rubio De La Rosa averaged a team-best in points per game (14.4) for the second straight season and led Columbia in minutes per game (30.8), field goals made (116), three-pointers made (57), and steals (41). Rubio De La Rosa ranked in the top ten among Ivy League players in scoring, three-point field goal percentage, three-point field goals per game, and steals. The guard notched double-figures in 20 games and carries a four-game double-figure scoring streak into the 2024-25 season.
In February, Rubio De La Rosa became the 30th Lion in program history to score 1,000 points and the 16th to do so in his first three seasons.
Record Book Watch
- Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa (1,205 points) is 18th on Columbia's all-time scoring list.
- Rubio De La Rosa is second all-time in program history in three-pointers made (196). Maodo Lo (277) is the all-time leader in three-pointers made for the Lions.
- Rubio De La Rosa is second all-time in program history in three-pointers attempted (525). Maodo Lo (692) is the all-time leader in three-pointers attempted for the Lions.
- Rubio De La Rosa's .836 free throw percentage ranks third all-time in program history. He trails Brian Barbour (.897) and Chet Forte (.841).
- Rubio De La Rosa is fourth all-time in program history with 128 steals. He is 18 steals away from tying Sean Couch for third place.
Fast Break Points
- The 21-point win on Nov. 9 against Delaware State was the largest margin of victory against a D1 opponent at Levien Gymnasium since Dec. 7, 2018 vs. Bryant (90-68 win).
- It was also the largest margin of victory in a home opener since 2010 (108-74 win over Maryland Eastern Shore).
- Columbia received one vote in the Nov. 11 AP Top 25 Poll.
- It's likely the first AP Top 25 vote Columbia has gotten since 1970.
- Jim Engles was named National Coach of the Week by legendary ESPN analyst Dick Vitale on Nov. 11
- Last time Columbia won its first three home games in a season was 2019-20 (75-63 W vs. Binghamton on Nov. 13; 68-64 W vs. Lehigh on Nov. 30; 69-54 W vs. Marist on Dec. 28).
- Columbia is tied for 21st in the country in points scored (487) as of Nov. 21.
- Columbia had the third-biggest KenPom rating jump in the country during the first week of the season (209 to 148 – +61).
-Was their highest KenPom rating since Nov. 16, 2019 (147).
- On Nov. 11 Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa was the first Lion to be tabbed Lou Henson National Player of the Week. He was also tabbed Ivy League Player of the Week and Mid-Major Madness Men's Player of the Week.
- Blair Thompson posted his first career double-double in the Nov. 9 win over Delaware State, which included 12 points and a career-high 11 rebounds.
Series History - Stony Brook
Columbia is 7-12 all-time against the Seawolves but the two teams have not met since Dec. 7, 2017. Stony Brook earned a 76-66 win in New York City in that matchup. Columbia's most recent victory in the series was a season-opening 73-66 win on Nov. 11, 2016. It was head coach Jim Engles' first win at the helm of the Lions.
Series History - New Hampshire
Columbia is 4-1 all-time against the Wildcats and dropped its first game to New Hampshire last season on Dec. 3, 80-71. The Lions won the first four meetings in the series and most recently defeated the Wildcats on Dec. 3, 2022, 56-52.
Up Next
Columbia has a nine-day break through Thanksgiving before hitting the road to play UAlbany on Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m.
Preseason Ivy League Poll
The Lions were predicted to finish fifth in the preseason Ivy League poll, conducted by selected members of the media. It is the highest the Lions have been picked to finish since 2017, when they were also picked fifth. Columbia had been predicted to finish eighth the last three seasons.
Tickets on Sale
Single-game tickets for the 2024-25 Columbia men's basketball season are now on sale. Click here or call 888-LIONS-11 to purchase tickets.
Follow The Lions
For the latest on Columbia men's basketball, follow @CULionsMBB on X, Instagram or on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Players Mentioned
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