Saturday, December 6
New York, N.Y.
5:30 P.M.
Columbia University
vs
UAlbany
Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Josh Wang
Men’s Basketball Meets UAlbany on Saturday to Wrap Homestand
12/5/2025 11:30:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Lions aim for an eighth straight win
NEW YORK — Columbia men's basketball concludes a three-game homestand against UAlbany on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. from Schiller Court at Levien Gymnasium.
Saturday's contest between the Lions (8-1) and Great Danes (3-6) can be followed via live stats or watched live on ESPN+. Lance Medow (play-by-play) and Shawn Fitzgerald '80CC (analyst) will have the call. Click here to purchase tickets.
News/Notes
Opening Tip-Off
Columbia secured its seventh consecutive win on Wednesday night, edging Hofstra, 72-70.
Columbia ranks second in the country in rebounding margin and is inside the top 20 nationally in rebounds per game, defensive rebounds per game, three-point percentage, and winning percentage.
The Lions' seven-game winning streak is tied for the fourth-longest in the country.
Kevin Hovde is the first Columbia head coach in his debut season to win eight of his first nine games since Lou Rossini started 20-0 in his first season in Morningside Heights in 1950–51.
Last Time Out
Columbia won its seventh straight game in a nail-biter against Hofstra, 72-70, on Wednesday night from Schiller Court at Levien Gymnasium.
With 20 seconds left, Miles Franklin hopped through the paint and laid in a basket to put the Lions up 72-69. Back on defense, Franklin got both hands on a Hofstra layup that would have made it a one-point game. Hofstra had its last chance after a foul on a loose ball sent the Pride to the line with under two seconds to go. German Plotnikov missed the second free throw, but Mason Ritter pulled down the rebound and time expired.
The Lions moved to 5-0 at home and secured their fifth wire-to-wire victory of the season. Ryan Soulis recorded a second straight double-double with a career-high 14 points to go along with 10 rebounds. Kenny Noland led the Lions with 19 points on 5-of-8 shooting from three-point range. Franklin scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds to go with his clutch block to snap a Hofstra three-game winning streak. Blair Thompson added 11.
Offensive Fireworks
On Nov. 26, the Lions scored 106 points at Fairfield, marking their first 100-point game against a Division I opponent since Nov. 15, 2010 (108 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore) and their first on the road since Dec. 8, 2009, at Wagner. Columbia shot an impressive 62.5 percent from the field against the Stags—their first road game shooting over 60 percent since Feb. 27, 2016, at Penn. The Lions are clicking from deep, ranking 18th nationally with a 40.1 percent three-point clip.
Columbia averaged 93.8 points over a four-game span from Nov. 21 to Nov. 29. Columbia last averaged 90-plus points over a four-game span during the 1976-77 season.
In the Nov. 29 win over Sarah Lawrence, six Lions reached double-figures in scoring, marking the first time the program had that many players notch 10 or more points in a game since Dec. 4, 2017, vs. Quinnipiac.
Breaking The Glass
The Lions lead Ivy League teams in rebounding margin (14.2), combined team rebounds per game (43.3) and offensive rebounds per game (13.2). Columbia has out-rebounded its opponent in all eight wins this season.
The Lions have out-rebounded an opponent by more than 20 boards three times this season (plus-23 vs. UMass Lowell on Nov. 13, plus-25 at Lehigh on Nov. 21, and plus-38 vs. Sarah Lawrence on Nov. 29). The plus-25 margin against the Mountain Hawks is Columbia's largest against a Division I opponent since Nov. 15, 2010, vs. Maryland Eastern Shore, when the Lions were 44-21 on the boards against the Hawks. The pair of 48-rebound performances against UMass Lowell and Lehigh are the most boards in a game for Columbia against a Division I foe since Dec. 12, 2022 (at Lafayette). The last time Columbia recorded multiple 40-rebound games in a season against Division I opponents came in 2017-18.
Columbia also had 23 offensive rebounds on Nov. 13, marking the first time the Lions secured over 20 offensive boards since Jan. 16, 2023, vs. Cornell.
Noticing Noland
Senior guard Kenny Noland is off to a strong offensive start to 2025-26, averaging a team-best 17.2 points per game. The Apex, N.C. native has trumped his career-high in points twice already through nine games this season and has recorded four 20-point performances. Noland's 155 points this season rank fifth among Ivy League scorers and his 28 three-pointers are the second-most in the league.
How Many Miles Can He Go?
First-year guard Miles Franklin shined in his collegiate debut in the Nov. 7 season opener. The Vienna, Virginia native came off the bench and in 18 minutes of action tallied 13 points on 5-5 shooting from the floor. Franklin knocked down two three-pointers and recorded three rebounds, two blocks, and a steal.
Franklin followed up on Nov. 10 at No. 3 UConn with a 10-point showing (eight in the second half) on 5-8 shooting. His performance included a posterizing dunk over Silas Demary Jr. with 8:42 remaining in the game. He was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week.
Franklin poured in a career-best 18 points on 6-10 shooting on Nov. 26 at Fairfield and has scored double-figures in two-thirds of this season's games. His five steals on Nov. 23 vs. Longwood are the most by a Lion since Avery Brown had five on Nov. 15, 2023, against SUNY Delhi.
1,000 Points Watch
Columbia's Kenny Noland (900 points) and Avery Brown (862 points) are each closing in on the 1,000-point mark for their careers. The last Lion to reach 1,000 points was Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa on Feb. 23, 2024. Columbia has 30 all-time 1,000-point scorers.
Series History - UAlbany
Columbia has dropped nine straight matchups to the Great Danes and goes for its first win in the series since 2001. UAlbany took last season's meeting, 88-73. The last time the two teams met in New York City was 2023, where the Great Danes came away with a 78-75 win.
Up Next
Columbia travels to Stony Brook on Tuesday at 7 p.m. before a 12-day break. The game will air live on FloSports and SNY.
Follow The Lions
For the latest on Columbia men's basketball, follow @CULionsMBB on X and Instagram, search Columbia men's basketball on Facebook, or follow on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Saturday's contest between the Lions (8-1) and Great Danes (3-6) can be followed via live stats or watched live on ESPN+. Lance Medow (play-by-play) and Shawn Fitzgerald '80CC (analyst) will have the call. Click here to purchase tickets.
News/Notes
Opening Tip-Off
Columbia secured its seventh consecutive win on Wednesday night, edging Hofstra, 72-70.
Columbia ranks second in the country in rebounding margin and is inside the top 20 nationally in rebounds per game, defensive rebounds per game, three-point percentage, and winning percentage.
The Lions' seven-game winning streak is tied for the fourth-longest in the country.
Kevin Hovde is the first Columbia head coach in his debut season to win eight of his first nine games since Lou Rossini started 20-0 in his first season in Morningside Heights in 1950–51.
Last Time Out
Columbia won its seventh straight game in a nail-biter against Hofstra, 72-70, on Wednesday night from Schiller Court at Levien Gymnasium.
With 20 seconds left, Miles Franklin hopped through the paint and laid in a basket to put the Lions up 72-69. Back on defense, Franklin got both hands on a Hofstra layup that would have made it a one-point game. Hofstra had its last chance after a foul on a loose ball sent the Pride to the line with under two seconds to go. German Plotnikov missed the second free throw, but Mason Ritter pulled down the rebound and time expired.
The Lions moved to 5-0 at home and secured their fifth wire-to-wire victory of the season. Ryan Soulis recorded a second straight double-double with a career-high 14 points to go along with 10 rebounds. Kenny Noland led the Lions with 19 points on 5-of-8 shooting from three-point range. Franklin scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds to go with his clutch block to snap a Hofstra three-game winning streak. Blair Thompson added 11.
Offensive Fireworks
On Nov. 26, the Lions scored 106 points at Fairfield, marking their first 100-point game against a Division I opponent since Nov. 15, 2010 (108 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore) and their first on the road since Dec. 8, 2009, at Wagner. Columbia shot an impressive 62.5 percent from the field against the Stags—their first road game shooting over 60 percent since Feb. 27, 2016, at Penn. The Lions are clicking from deep, ranking 18th nationally with a 40.1 percent three-point clip.
Columbia averaged 93.8 points over a four-game span from Nov. 21 to Nov. 29. Columbia last averaged 90-plus points over a four-game span during the 1976-77 season.
In the Nov. 29 win over Sarah Lawrence, six Lions reached double-figures in scoring, marking the first time the program had that many players notch 10 or more points in a game since Dec. 4, 2017, vs. Quinnipiac.
Breaking The Glass
The Lions lead Ivy League teams in rebounding margin (14.2), combined team rebounds per game (43.3) and offensive rebounds per game (13.2). Columbia has out-rebounded its opponent in all eight wins this season.
The Lions have out-rebounded an opponent by more than 20 boards three times this season (plus-23 vs. UMass Lowell on Nov. 13, plus-25 at Lehigh on Nov. 21, and plus-38 vs. Sarah Lawrence on Nov. 29). The plus-25 margin against the Mountain Hawks is Columbia's largest against a Division I opponent since Nov. 15, 2010, vs. Maryland Eastern Shore, when the Lions were 44-21 on the boards against the Hawks. The pair of 48-rebound performances against UMass Lowell and Lehigh are the most boards in a game for Columbia against a Division I foe since Dec. 12, 2022 (at Lafayette). The last time Columbia recorded multiple 40-rebound games in a season against Division I opponents came in 2017-18.
Columbia also had 23 offensive rebounds on Nov. 13, marking the first time the Lions secured over 20 offensive boards since Jan. 16, 2023, vs. Cornell.
Noticing Noland
Senior guard Kenny Noland is off to a strong offensive start to 2025-26, averaging a team-best 17.2 points per game. The Apex, N.C. native has trumped his career-high in points twice already through nine games this season and has recorded four 20-point performances. Noland's 155 points this season rank fifth among Ivy League scorers and his 28 three-pointers are the second-most in the league.
How Many Miles Can He Go?
First-year guard Miles Franklin shined in his collegiate debut in the Nov. 7 season opener. The Vienna, Virginia native came off the bench and in 18 minutes of action tallied 13 points on 5-5 shooting from the floor. Franklin knocked down two three-pointers and recorded three rebounds, two blocks, and a steal.
Franklin followed up on Nov. 10 at No. 3 UConn with a 10-point showing (eight in the second half) on 5-8 shooting. His performance included a posterizing dunk over Silas Demary Jr. with 8:42 remaining in the game. He was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week.
Franklin poured in a career-best 18 points on 6-10 shooting on Nov. 26 at Fairfield and has scored double-figures in two-thirds of this season's games. His five steals on Nov. 23 vs. Longwood are the most by a Lion since Avery Brown had five on Nov. 15, 2023, against SUNY Delhi.
1,000 Points Watch
Columbia's Kenny Noland (900 points) and Avery Brown (862 points) are each closing in on the 1,000-point mark for their careers. The last Lion to reach 1,000 points was Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa on Feb. 23, 2024. Columbia has 30 all-time 1,000-point scorers.
Series History - UAlbany
Columbia has dropped nine straight matchups to the Great Danes and goes for its first win in the series since 2001. UAlbany took last season's meeting, 88-73. The last time the two teams met in New York City was 2023, where the Great Danes came away with a 78-75 win.
Up Next
Columbia travels to Stony Brook on Tuesday at 7 p.m. before a 12-day break. The game will air live on FloSports and SNY.
Follow The Lions
For the latest on Columbia men's basketball, follow @CULionsMBB on X and Instagram, search Columbia men's basketball on Facebook, or follow on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's BasketballPostgame: MBK | Head Coach Kevin Hovde and Ryan Soulis after Hofstra Win
Wednesday, December 03
Highlights: MBK | Columbia 72, Hofstra 70
Wednesday, December 03
Postgame: MBK | Soulis & Coach Hovde Talk Hofstra Win
Wednesday, December 03
Highlights: MBK | Columbia 92, Sarah Lawrence 44
Saturday, November 29
