Saturday, February 10
Providence, R.I.
12:00 P.M.
Columbia University
at
Brown
Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Brian Foley
Men's Basketball Visits Brown on Saturday
2/9/2024 12:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Lions and Bears battle to stay in fourth place mix in Ivy standings
NEW YORK — Columbia men's basketball closes out a three-game road trip at Brown on Saturday with a 12 p.m. tip-off from Pizzitola Sports Center.
Saturday's contest between the Lions (11-8, 2-4) and the Bears (6-15, 2-4) can be followed via live stats and watched live on ESPN+ or NESN. Scott Cordischi (play-by-play), Russ Tyler (analyst), and Nick Coit (sideline) will be on the call. Tickets can be purchased here.
Opening Tip-Off
The Lions are coming off a bounce-back 72-56 win at Dartmouth last Saturday night. It was their first victory at Leede Arena since 2016.
A win on Saturday for the Lions would snap a six-game losing streak against the Bears and would give Columbia two straight Ivy League wins for the first time since March 2019.
Columbia's three road victories this season are the most since 2018-19.
Following Saturday's matchup, Columbia gets set for two consecutive weekends of home back-to-backs. It will be the first time Columbia has a four-game homestand during conference play since February 2020.
News/Notes
Last Time Out
The Lions split a road back-to-back with a loss to Harvard last Friday and then a dominant win at Dartmouth a day later. Columbia led by as many as 20 points in Friday's game against the Crimson but was unable to close out a win. On Saturday, the Lions handled Dartmouth with a commanding 72-56 victory at Leede Arena. Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa finished with 12 points and tied his career-best with 12 rebounds, recording a double-double for the third time of his career. It's the junior guard's first double-double since Feb. 4, 2022 at Princeton and he is the second Lion to record a double-double this season. Kenny Noland dropped a game-high 13 points and Jaden Cooper matched his career-high with 12. Jake Tavroff was 4-4 from the floor and added a career-best nine points. The Lions out-rebounded the Big Green, 44-29.
In The New York Groove
Columbia is averaging 85.1 points per game in wins this season. The Lions are averaging 17.6 assists, which ranks No. 14 in the country and is second in the Ivy League. Columbia is shooting 38.1 percent from three-point range (24th in the country) and has a defensive three-point percentage of 30.3 (33rd in the country).
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.
Columbia's eight home wins this season are the most since 2015-16.
Columbia's three road wins this season surpass the away victory total from the previous three seasons combined.
Before the loss to Princeton on Jan. 20, Columbia had won seven straight home games for the first time since 2015-16.
The Lions began conference play with nine wins for the first time since 2015-16.
Columbia has scored at least 100 points in two games this season. The last time a Lions team accomplished this feat was in 1976-77.
Columbia surpassed the previous record for most points in a game in program history on Jan. 4 vs. Mount Saint Vincent when the Lions cruised to a 120-52 win. The previous mark was 118 points at Wagner on Jan. 17, 1977.
Zavian McLean became the first Lion to tally a double-double in two seasons on Jan. 4 with 19 points and 11 boards. Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa then recorded his third career double-double (12 points, 12 rebounds) on Feb. 3 at Dartmouth and first since Feb. 4, 2022 at Princeton.
Following a win over Temple on Nov. 18, it was the first time Columbia's record has been over .500 since Feb. 4, 2017.
The Lions had won eight of their first 11 games to start the season for the first time since 1978. Columbia already passed last season's win total on Dec. 11.
Columbia's six-game winning streak earlier this season was the program's longest since January 2016.
Well-Balanced Attack
Through 19 games this season, Columbia has had at least four players finish with double-figures scoring eight times and five players finish with double-figures scoring three times (Dec. 5 vs. Lafayette, Jan. 4 vs. Mount Saint Vincent, and Jan. 9 at Cornell).
Before this season, Columbia last had five players score double-figures in the same game on Nov. 19, 2019 against Binghamton.
Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa (13.6) and Avery Brown (11.0) are averaging double-figures scoring, while three other Lions are averaging over eight points per game. Brown and Rubio De La Rosa lead the team with 13 double-figure scoring performances while Noland has nine such games.
Columbia is averaging 29.5 bench points per game, which ranks No. 22 in the country.
Free Throw Frenzy
Columbia is 250-332 (75.3 percent) from the free throw line this season. That mark is currently second for the all-time single-season average in program history, second in the Ivy League, and ranks 44th in the country. Four Lions are shooting above 75 percent from the charity stripe this season.
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.
Rubio 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 13 out of 17 games this season. He ranks fifth in the country in fouls committed per 40 minutes (1.1), according to KenPom.
Rubio 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.
Rubio 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 Brown
The Bears enter Saturday's contest at 6-15 (2-4). Nana Owusu-Anane and Kino Lilly Jr. rank second and third in conference play with 18.7 and 17.7 points per game, respectively. Lilly Jr. is also averaging a league-best 37.0 minutes per game in Ivy League contests. As a team, Brown averages 70.0 points per game and are coming off a home back-to-back split with Penn (win) and Princeton (loss) last weekend. The Bears are 3-6 at home this season.
Series History - Brown
The Lions are 76-74 all-time against the Bears and have dropped six-straight games in the series. Columbia's last victory against Brown was an 80-77 win at Pizzitola Sports Center on March 1, 2019.
Up Next
Following Saturday's matchup, Columbia gets set for two consecutive weekends of home back-to-backs. It will be the first time Columbia has a four-game homestand during conference play since February 2020.
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.
Saturday's contest between the Lions (11-8, 2-4) and the Bears (6-15, 2-4) can be followed via live stats and watched live on ESPN+ or NESN. Scott Cordischi (play-by-play), Russ Tyler (analyst), and Nick Coit (sideline) will be on the call. Tickets can be purchased here.
Opening Tip-Off
The Lions are coming off a bounce-back 72-56 win at Dartmouth last Saturday night. It was their first victory at Leede Arena since 2016.
☕ 🎥 Start your Sunday right with highlights from our victory last night at Dartmouth! #RoarLionRoar🦁 #OnlyHere🗽 pic.twitter.com/4b5DnNkk3n
— Columbia Basketball (@CULionsMBB) February 4, 2024
A win on Saturday for the Lions would snap a six-game losing streak against the Bears and would give Columbia two straight Ivy League wins for the first time since March 2019.
Columbia's three road victories this season are the most since 2018-19.
Following Saturday's matchup, Columbia gets set for two consecutive weekends of home back-to-backs. It will be the first time Columbia has a four-game homestand during conference play since February 2020.
News/Notes
Last Time Out
The Lions split a road back-to-back with a loss to Harvard last Friday and then a dominant win at Dartmouth a day later. Columbia led by as many as 20 points in Friday's game against the Crimson but was unable to close out a win. On Saturday, the Lions handled Dartmouth with a commanding 72-56 victory at Leede Arena. Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa finished with 12 points and tied his career-best with 12 rebounds, recording a double-double for the third time of his career. It's the junior guard's first double-double since Feb. 4, 2022 at Princeton and he is the second Lion to record a double-double this season. Kenny Noland dropped a game-high 13 points and Jaden Cooper matched his career-high with 12. Jake Tavroff was 4-4 from the floor and added a career-best nine points. The Lions out-rebounded the Big Green, 44-29.
In The New York Groove
Columbia is averaging 85.1 points per game in wins this season. The Lions are averaging 17.6 assists, which ranks No. 14 in the country and is second in the Ivy League. Columbia is shooting 38.1 percent from three-point range (24th in the country) and has a defensive three-point percentage of 30.3 (33rd in the country).
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.
Columbia's eight home wins this season are the most since 2015-16.
Columbia's three road wins this season surpass the away victory total from the previous three seasons combined.
Before the loss to Princeton on Jan. 20, Columbia had won seven straight home games for the first time since 2015-16.
The Lions began conference play with nine wins for the first time since 2015-16.
Columbia has scored at least 100 points in two games this season. The last time a Lions team accomplished this feat was in 1976-77.
Columbia surpassed the previous record for most points in a game in program history on Jan. 4 vs. Mount Saint Vincent when the Lions cruised to a 120-52 win. The previous mark was 118 points at Wagner on Jan. 17, 1977.
Zavian McLean became the first Lion to tally a double-double in two seasons on Jan. 4 with 19 points and 11 boards. Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa then recorded his third career double-double (12 points, 12 rebounds) on Feb. 3 at Dartmouth and first since Feb. 4, 2022 at Princeton.
Following a win over Temple on Nov. 18, it was the first time Columbia's record has been over .500 since Feb. 4, 2017.
The Lions had won eight of their first 11 games to start the season for the first time since 1978. Columbia already passed last season's win total on Dec. 11.
Columbia's six-game winning streak earlier this season was the program's longest since January 2016.
Well-Balanced Attack
Through 19 games this season, Columbia has had at least four players finish with double-figures scoring eight times and five players finish with double-figures scoring three times (Dec. 5 vs. Lafayette, Jan. 4 vs. Mount Saint Vincent, and Jan. 9 at Cornell).
Before this season, Columbia last had five players score double-figures in the same game on Nov. 19, 2019 against Binghamton.
Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa (13.6) and Avery Brown (11.0) are averaging double-figures scoring, while three other Lions are averaging over eight points per game. Brown and Rubio De La Rosa lead the team with 13 double-figure scoring performances while Noland has nine such games.
Columbia is averaging 29.5 bench points per game, which ranks No. 22 in the country.
Free Throw Frenzy
Columbia is 250-332 (75.3 percent) from the free throw line this season. That mark is currently second for the all-time single-season average in program history, second in the Ivy League, and ranks 44th in the country. Four Lions are shooting above 75 percent from the charity stripe this season.
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.
Rubio 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 13 out of 17 games this season. He ranks fifth in the country in fouls committed per 40 minutes (1.1), according to KenPom.
Rubio 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.
Rubio 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 Brown
The Bears enter Saturday's contest at 6-15 (2-4). Nana Owusu-Anane and Kino Lilly Jr. rank second and third in conference play with 18.7 and 17.7 points per game, respectively. Lilly Jr. is also averaging a league-best 37.0 minutes per game in Ivy League contests. As a team, Brown averages 70.0 points per game and are coming off a home back-to-back split with Penn (win) and Princeton (loss) last weekend. The Bears are 3-6 at home this season.
Series History - Brown
The Lions are 76-74 all-time against the Bears and have dropped six-straight games in the series. Columbia's last victory against Brown was an 80-77 win at Pizzitola Sports Center on March 1, 2019.
Up Next
Following Saturday's matchup, Columbia gets set for two consecutive weekends of home back-to-backs. It will be the first time Columbia has a four-game homestand during conference play since February 2020.
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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