Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Lem Photography
Men’s Basketball Falls in Conference Opener to Cornell
1/11/2025 4:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Cornell’s impressive shooting performance was the difference on Saturday
NEW YORK — Columbia men's basketball ran into a red-hot Cornell team in a 94-83 defeat Saturday afternoon in both teams' Ivy League openers inside Schiller Court at Levien Gymnasium. The Lions fell to 11-3 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
The Big Red (9-5, 1-0) shot a blistering 63.3 percent from the floor and were 14-of-27 (51.9 percent) from three-point range. Jacob Beccles posted a game-high 23 points and knocked down all five of his three-point tries in just 18 minutes.
Kenny Noland led Columbia by tying his career-high with 19 points and also tied a career-high with six assists. Avery Brown chipped in 18, and Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa posted 15 points to go with six assists. Noah Robledo added 10 points and a team-high five rebounds off the bench.
Cornell used an early 11-0 run to grab a 13-4 lead and never looked back. In the opening half, the Big Red hit seven three-pointers and were 20-of-30 from the floor. Columbia was just 1-of-10 from beyond the arc in the first half and trailed 51-31 at the break.
After being held scoreless in the opening half, Rubio De La Rosa scored Columbia's first eight points of the second to spark a rally. Noland hit back-to-back layups to pull the Lions within 58-49 with 16:05 to go, but Cornell responded with eight unanswered to bring the lead back up to 17.
Columbia continued to shoot the ball well, knocking down 11 triples in the frame, but every time the Lions surged closer, the Big Red had an answer to come away with the win.
Columbia is back in action next Saturday at home against Yale. Tip-off from Schiller Court at Levien Gymnasium is set for 2 p.m. and can be watched live on ESPN+.
Follow The Lions
For the latest on Columbia men's basketball, follow @CULionsMBB on X, Instagram or on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
The Big Red (9-5, 1-0) shot a blistering 63.3 percent from the floor and were 14-of-27 (51.9 percent) from three-point range. Jacob Beccles posted a game-high 23 points and knocked down all five of his three-point tries in just 18 minutes.
Kenny Noland led Columbia by tying his career-high with 19 points and also tied a career-high with six assists. Avery Brown chipped in 18, and Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa posted 15 points to go with six assists. Noah Robledo added 10 points and a team-high five rebounds off the bench.
Cornell used an early 11-0 run to grab a 13-4 lead and never looked back. In the opening half, the Big Red hit seven three-pointers and were 20-of-30 from the floor. Columbia was just 1-of-10 from beyond the arc in the first half and trailed 51-31 at the break.
After being held scoreless in the opening half, Rubio De La Rosa scored Columbia's first eight points of the second to spark a rally. Noland hit back-to-back layups to pull the Lions within 58-49 with 16:05 to go, but Cornell responded with eight unanswered to bring the lead back up to 17.
Columbia continued to shoot the ball well, knocking down 11 triples in the frame, but every time the Lions surged closer, the Big Red had an answer to come away with the win.
Columbia is back in action next Saturday at home against Yale. Tip-off from Schiller Court at Levien Gymnasium is set for 2 p.m. and can be watched live on ESPN+.
Follow The Lions
For the latest on Columbia men's basketball, follow @CULionsMBB on X, Instagram or on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Team Stats
CU
CU
FG%
.633
.485
3FG%
.519
.429
FT%
1.000
.778
RB
28
28
TO
13
11
STL
6
6
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Highlights: MBK | Columbia 71, New Haven 53
Friday, November 07
Postgame: MBK | Coach Hovde Talks Win Over New Haven
Friday, November 07
Interview: MBK | Ivy League Media Day
Tuesday, October 28
Presser: MBK | Kevin Hovde Introduced as Columbia Men's Basketball Head Coach
Thursday, April 10









