Saturday, December 28
New York, N.Y.
4:00 P.M.
Columbia University
vs
Fairfield
Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Josh Wang
Men’s Basketball Hosts Fairfield on Saturday; Visits Rutgers on Monday
12/27/2024 9:50:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Lions close out non-conference play with the Stags and Scarlet Knights
NEW YORK — Columbia men's basketball returns from break to welcome Fairfield on Saturday at 4 p.m. from Schiller Court at Levien Gymnasium before tipping off at Rutgers on Monday at 5 p.m. from Jersey Mike's Arena.
Saturday's matchup between the Lions (10-1) and Fairfield (5-7, 1-1) can be followed via live stats or watched live on SNY or ESPN+. Lance Medow (play-by-play) and Barry Rohrssen (analyst) will have the call. Click here or call 888-LIONS-11 to purchase tickets.
Monday's matchup against Rutgers (7-5, 1-1) can also be followed via live stats or watched live on the Big Ten Network. Ed Cohen (play-by-play) and Austin Johnson (analyst) will have the call.
Opening Tip-Off
Columbia returns to action following a 19-day break.
The Lions started 8-0 for the first time since Columbia's 1969-70 team, which started the season with 10 straight wins before finishing 20-5 (11-3). Columbia's eight-game winning streak was its first since Feb. 1982.
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 (70.9). The average continuity mark in the country is 34.2.
Columbia goes for its eighth consecutive home victory on Saturday to start a season for the first time since 1981-82.
News/Notes
Last Time Out
Columbia dominated in a 92-46 victory over Sarah Lawrence on Dec. 9 inside Schiller Court at Levien Gymnasium.
Kenny Noland posted a game-high 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Josiah Cunningham followed with 12 points and three steals. Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa and Blair Thompson were the other two players in double-digits, each scoring 10. Zine Eddine Bedri pulled down a season-high nine rebounds to go alongside five assists, which tied his career-high.
In The Polls
Columbia has received votes in the AP Top 25 Poll three times this season. The Lions are ranked No. 10 in the latest T3Bracketology Poll and No. 16 in the latest collegeinsider.com poll.
Rubio De La Rosa Dominance
Senior guard Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa is off to a scorching start this season, averaging 18.9 points per game (43rd in the country) over the first 11 games of 2024-25. He is shooting 53.7 percent from the floor and 46.6 percent from three-point range, which ranks 21st in the country.
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.
Historic Performance by G
On Nov. 23 vs. Stony Brook, Rubio De La Rosa dropped a career-high 37 points and moved to 11th place on Columbia's all-time scoring list. Rubio De La Rosa set a Levien Gym record and a career high with nine three-pointers made. He also tied the Levien Gym record for points scored by a Lion, matching Mike Smith, Buck Jenkins, and C.J. Thompkins' 37-point performances. From the floor, Rubio De La Rosa was 14-18 (.778) from inside the arc and 9-13 (.692) from three-point range. Rubio De La Rosa had 24 of the Lions' 38 first half points.
Rubio De La Rosa was the first Lion to score 37 points in a game since Mike Smith did so on Feb. 22, 2020 vs. Yale.
Noticing Noland
Junior guard Kenny Noland has played a big part of Columbia's offense, averaging 12.5 points per game in 27.2 minutes per game. His 38 assists lead the team and are seventh in the Ivy League.
Spreading The Wealth
The Lions are putting together well-balanced numbers on the stat sheets this season. Junior Blair Thompson leads the team and ranks in the top ten in the Ivy League in rebounds per game (6.6). The New York City native's 28 offensive boards are the fourth-most in the conference. 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.
First-year Mason Ritter leads the team with seven blocks in just 10.8 minutes per game this season. Junior Avery Brown has chipped in averaging nine points per game with double-figure scoring in four games. He is second on the team in assists (35).
Record Book Watch
- Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa (1,282 points) sits in 10th place on Columbia's all-time scoring list. He recently passed Heyward Dotson '70CC and is 16 points away from tying John Baumann '08CC for ninth place.
- Rubio De La Rosa is second all-time in program history in three-pointers made (209). 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 (554). Maodo Lo (692) is the all-time leader in three-pointers attempted for the Lions.
- Rubio De La Rosa's .840 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 132 steals. He is 24 steals away from tying Sean Couch for third place.
Inside the Analytics
Columbia's KenPom rating is 148. Columbia's NET ranking is 98, which is the best among Ivy League teams.
Series History - Fairfield
Columbia and the Stags have only met once, on Nov. 27, 2015 at Fairfield. The Stags pulled out an 82-81 home victory.
Series History - Rutgers
Columbia is 26-23 all-time against Rutgers. The two teams last met in the 2022-23 season opener in Piscataway.
Columbia Against Big Ten Opponents
The Lions are 32-42 all-time against teams currently in the Big 10. Columbia's most common opponent is Rutgers and its last win against a Big Ten foe was an 85-75 win in Piscataway. The Lions' last victory over a traditional Big 10 foe came on Dec. 3, 1969 against Northwestern, 83-68.
Fast Break Points
- The 26-point win on Nov. 25 against New Hampshire (83-57) was the largest margin of victory against a D1 opponent at Levien Gymnasium since Dec. 7, 2018 vs. Bryant (90-68 win). The Lions have had four double-digit home wins this season.
- Columbia has received votes in the AP Top 25 Poll three times this season.
- It's likely the first time Columbia has gotten an AP Top 25 vote since 1970.
- On Nov. 25, Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa was named Ivy League Player of the Week, ESPN Dick Vitale National Player of the Week, and CollegeInsider.com Lou Henson National Player of the Week. On Nov. 26, he was named an Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week.
- Jim Engles was named National Coach of the Week by legendary ESPN analyst Dick Vitale on Nov. 11.
- 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.
- 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).
Up Next
Columbia gets set for Ivy League play as the new year begins. The Lions host Cornell on Jan. 11 at 2 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.
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 (10-1) and Fairfield (5-7, 1-1) can be followed via live stats or watched live on SNY or ESPN+. Lance Medow (play-by-play) and Barry Rohrssen (analyst) will have the call. Click here or call 888-LIONS-11 to purchase tickets.
Monday's matchup against Rutgers (7-5, 1-1) can also be followed via live stats or watched live on the Big Ten Network. Ed Cohen (play-by-play) and Austin Johnson (analyst) will have the call.
Opening Tip-Off
Columbia returns to action following a 19-day break.
The Lions started 8-0 for the first time since Columbia's 1969-70 team, which started the season with 10 straight wins before finishing 20-5 (11-3). Columbia's eight-game winning streak was its first since Feb. 1982.
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 (70.9). The average continuity mark in the country is 34.2.
Columbia goes for its eighth consecutive home victory on Saturday to start a season for the first time since 1981-82.
News/Notes
Last Time Out
Columbia dominated in a 92-46 victory over Sarah Lawrence on Dec. 9 inside Schiller Court at Levien Gymnasium.
Kenny Noland posted a game-high 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Josiah Cunningham followed with 12 points and three steals. Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa and Blair Thompson were the other two players in double-digits, each scoring 10. Zine Eddine Bedri pulled down a season-high nine rebounds to go alongside five assists, which tied his career-high.
In The Polls
Columbia has received votes in the AP Top 25 Poll three times this season. The Lions are ranked No. 10 in the latest T3Bracketology Poll and No. 16 in the latest collegeinsider.com poll.
Rubio De La Rosa Dominance
Senior guard Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa is off to a scorching start this season, averaging 18.9 points per game (43rd in the country) over the first 11 games of 2024-25. He is shooting 53.7 percent from the floor and 46.6 percent from three-point range, which ranks 21st in the country.
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.
Historic Performance by G
On Nov. 23 vs. Stony Brook, Rubio De La Rosa dropped a career-high 37 points and moved to 11th place on Columbia's all-time scoring list. Rubio De La Rosa set a Levien Gym record and a career high with nine three-pointers made. He also tied the Levien Gym record for points scored by a Lion, matching Mike Smith, Buck Jenkins, and C.J. Thompkins' 37-point performances. From the floor, Rubio De La Rosa was 14-18 (.778) from inside the arc and 9-13 (.692) from three-point range. Rubio De La Rosa had 24 of the Lions' 38 first half points.
Rubio De La Rosa was the first Lion to score 37 points in a game since Mike Smith did so on Feb. 22, 2020 vs. Yale.
Noticing Noland
Junior guard Kenny Noland has played a big part of Columbia's offense, averaging 12.5 points per game in 27.2 minutes per game. His 38 assists lead the team and are seventh in the Ivy League.
Spreading The Wealth
The Lions are putting together well-balanced numbers on the stat sheets this season. Junior Blair Thompson leads the team and ranks in the top ten in the Ivy League in rebounds per game (6.6). The New York City native's 28 offensive boards are the fourth-most in the conference. 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.
First-year Mason Ritter leads the team with seven blocks in just 10.8 minutes per game this season. Junior Avery Brown has chipped in averaging nine points per game with double-figure scoring in four games. He is second on the team in assists (35).
Record Book Watch
- Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa (1,282 points) sits in 10th place on Columbia's all-time scoring list. He recently passed Heyward Dotson '70CC and is 16 points away from tying John Baumann '08CC for ninth place.
- Rubio De La Rosa is second all-time in program history in three-pointers made (209). 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 (554). Maodo Lo (692) is the all-time leader in three-pointers attempted for the Lions.
- Rubio De La Rosa's .840 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 132 steals. He is 24 steals away from tying Sean Couch for third place.
Inside the Analytics
Columbia's KenPom rating is 148. Columbia's NET ranking is 98, which is the best among Ivy League teams.
Series History - Fairfield
Columbia and the Stags have only met once, on Nov. 27, 2015 at Fairfield. The Stags pulled out an 82-81 home victory.
Series History - Rutgers
Columbia is 26-23 all-time against Rutgers. The two teams last met in the 2022-23 season opener in Piscataway.
Columbia Against Big Ten Opponents
The Lions are 32-42 all-time against teams currently in the Big 10. Columbia's most common opponent is Rutgers and its last win against a Big Ten foe was an 85-75 win in Piscataway. The Lions' last victory over a traditional Big 10 foe came on Dec. 3, 1969 against Northwestern, 83-68.
Fast Break Points
- The 26-point win on Nov. 25 against New Hampshire (83-57) was the largest margin of victory against a D1 opponent at Levien Gymnasium since Dec. 7, 2018 vs. Bryant (90-68 win). The Lions have had four double-digit home wins this season.
- Columbia has received votes in the AP Top 25 Poll three times this season.
- It's likely the first time Columbia has gotten an AP Top 25 vote since 1970.
- On Nov. 25, Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa was named Ivy League Player of the Week, ESPN Dick Vitale National Player of the Week, and CollegeInsider.com Lou Henson National Player of the Week. On Nov. 26, he was named an Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week.
- Jim Engles was named National Coach of the Week by legendary ESPN analyst Dick Vitale on Nov. 11.
- 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.
- 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).
Up Next
Columbia gets set for Ivy League play as the new year begins. The Lions host Cornell on Jan. 11 at 2 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.
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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/ Men's BasketballHighlights: MBK | Columbia 106, Fairfield 77
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