Friday, January 30
New York, N.Y.
7:00 P.M.
Columbia University
vs
Penn
Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Josh Wang
Men’s Basketball Returns Home for Back-to-Back With Penn Friday, Princeton Saturday
1/29/2026 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Lions coaching staff will also participate in Suits and Sneakers Week with custom shoes
NEW YORK — Columbia men's basketball returns to Schiller Court at Levien Gymnasium for matchups with Penn on Friday at 7 p.m. and Princeton on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Friday's matchup between the Lions (13-6, 2-3) and Quakers (9-9, 2-3) can be followed via live stats or watched live on ESPN+. Click here to purchase tickets.
Saturday's contest presented by JAG Physical Therapy between the Lions and Tigers (7-13, 3-2) can be followed via live stats or watched live on ESPN+. Click here to purchase tickets.
Lance Medow (play-by-play) and Barry Rohrssen (analyst) will have the call for both games.
News/Notes
Opening Tip-Off
Columbia has the sixth-best rebounding margin in the country, ranks 12th nationally in defensive rebounds per game and 16th in rebounds per game. Through five Ivy League games, Columbia leads the conference in offensive rebounds (59).
The Lions snapped a three-game losing streak on Saturday with a 79-69 victory at Dartmouth after closing out the Big Green with a 7-0 run over the final two minutes of play.
Kenny Noland posted his first-ever double-double in the win, dropping a career-best 28 points and 11 rebounds. He was tabbed Ivy League Player of the Week for the third time this season.
The Lions went undefeated at home in non-conference play for a second consecutive season and also entered the Ivy League gauntlet with double-digit wins in back-to-back years.
Kevin Hovde is the first Columbia head coach in his debut season to win 13 of his first 19 games since Lou Rossini started 20-0 in his first season in Morningside Heights in 1950–51.
Suits And Sneakers Week
The Columbia men's basketball coaching staff will participate in Suits and Sneakers Week by wearing custom Air Jordan 1 Lows on Friday, Jan. 30, vs. Penn. The custom sneakers were designed by Jheri "Coco" Cavitt.
For more information on Coaches vs. Cancer's Suits and Sneakers week, visit https://www.cancer.org/about-us/our-partners/sports-alliances/coaches-vs-cancer.html
Last Time Out
Kenny Noland scored a career-best 28 points and recorded his first-ever double-double in Columbia's 79-69 victory at Dartmouth on Saturday afternoon at Leede Arena.
After Dartmouth clawed back to make it a three-point game, the Lions put the game on ice by finishing with a 7-0 run over the final two minutes. Noland hit a layup and after a stop on defense, Ryan Soulis stormed down the paint and slammed home a dunk. The spurt was capped by three free throws from Hampton Sanders with under a minute to go.
Noticing Noland
Senior guard Kenny Noland is on an offensive tear through 19 games this season, averaging a team-best 17.1 points per game. Noland leads the Lions in assists, field goals made, three-point field goals made, free throws made, and minutes per game. Noland's 324 points this season rank second among Ivy League scorers and his 47 three-pointers are tied for the second-most in the league.
On Jan. 24 at Dartmouth, Noland Noland posted 28 points and 11 rebounds (both career highs) for his first-career double-double in the 79-69 win. Noland went 11-11 from the free throw line (also a career-high) and tallied four steals, which tied his career-best. The Apex, N.C. native played all 40 minutes.
Noland's 28 points were the most scored by any Ivy League player amongst Saturday's games and were the most points scored by a Lion on the road since Nov. 13, 2022, at Sacred Heart (Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa, 28). His 28 points were also the most points scored by a Lion in a road Ivy League game since Feb. 15, 2020, at Harvard (Mike Smith, 38).
On Jan. 5 at Cornell, Noland notched his 1,000th career point, becoming the 31st Lion in program history to reach that mark and the first since Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa on Feb. 23, 2024. Noland's 106 steals rank 10th all-time in program history.
The Apex, N.C. native has trumped his career-high in points three times already this year and has recorded eight 20-point performances. Noland went off for an at-the-time career-best 27 points in a win at Lehigh on Nov. 21, where he went 11-18 from the field. He then matched the 27-point mark on Dec. 28 at North Florida.
At 61-64 (95.3 percent) from the charity stripe, Noland leads the country in free throw percentage among qualified players.
Noland has earned three Ivy League Player of the Week honors and was added to the Lou Henson Award Early Season Watch List on Dec. 18, which recognizes the top mid-major players in Division I college basketball.
Thompson Accomplishments
Senior forward Blair Thompson pulled down his 500th career rebound in Saturday's win at Dartmouth, becoming the first Lion to achieve the feat since Mark Cisco in 2012-13.
Thompson joins Gary Raimondo '99CC as the only other Lion to have 500 rebounds and 100 steals in their Columbia careers. The New York, N.Y. native will also play in his 100th career game on Friday.
Memorable Win in Ithaca
The Lions' 104-99 win on Jan. 5 was the highest-scoring game in Columbia-Cornell history (242 games).
Columbia scored 100 points on Cornell for just the second time in series history (103 on Jan. 18, 1957).
The last time Columbia scored over 100 points in an Ivy League game was Feb. 6, 1993, vs. Harvard (W, 101-70).
The last time Columbia scored over 100 points in a road Ivy League game was Feb. 19, 1972, at Harvard (L, 102-100).
Kenny Noland became the 31st Lion in program history to reach 1,000 career points when he hit a free throw with 34 seconds remaining in the game.
Offensive Fireworks
With Jan. 5's 104-point showing at Cornell, the Lions have now scored 100 or more points in three games in a season for the first time since 1976-77.
Columbia recorded 100 or more points in back-to-back games (Dec. 31 vs. PSU Abington and Jan. 5 at Cornell) for the first time since Jan. 1969 (wins over Georgetown and Niagara).
The Lions have had two players with 20 points or more in a game twice this season (Kenny Noland and Blair Thompson on Nov. 26 and Jan. 5), marking the first time that's happened since 2018-2019.
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.
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. Columbia also had six score in double-digits in the Dec. 31 win over PSU Abington.
Seven of Columbia's wins have come by 15 or more points. The Lions are averaging 86.9 points per game in wins this season. Five Lions have scored in double-figures four times this season.
Columbia's 48.5 percent mark from the field ranks 42nd in the country.
Breaking The Glass
In addition to having the sixth-best rebounding margin (11.2) in the country, the Lions lead Ivy League teams in combined rebounds per game (41.6), defensive rebounds per game (28.6), and offensive rebounds per game (13.0). Columbia has out-rebounded its opponent in all 13 wins this season.
The Lions have out-rebounded an opponent by more than 20 boards five times this season (plus-23 vs. UMass Lowell on Nov. 13, plus-25 at Lehigh on Nov. 21, plus-38 vs. Sarah Lawrence on Nov. 29, plus-20 vs. UAlbany on Dec. 6, and plus-42 vs. PSU Abington on Dec. 31). 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. Columbia notched 49 rebounds at Stony Brook on Dec. 9. Previously, the pair of 48-rebound performances against UMass Lowell and Lehigh were 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.
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.
Franklin poured in a career-best 19 points on 6-12 shooting on Dec. 28 at North Florida and has scored double-figures in 10 of his 17 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.
Franklin has been named Ivy League Rookie of the Week four times this season (Nov. 10, Dec. 8, Dec. 29, and Jan. 12).
Series History - Penn
Columbia is 94-151 all-time against the Quakers and looks to snap a three-game losing streak in the series. The Lions' most recent win over Penn was on Jan. 27, 2024, in New York City.
Series History - Princeton
Columbia is 86-165 all-time against the Tigers and seeks its first win in the series since Feb. 17, 2018.
Up Next
Columbia closes out a three-game homestand against Cornell next Saturday, Feb. 7 at 2 p.m.
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.
Friday's matchup between the Lions (13-6, 2-3) and Quakers (9-9, 2-3) can be followed via live stats or watched live on ESPN+. Click here to purchase tickets.
Saturday's contest presented by JAG Physical Therapy between the Lions and Tigers (7-13, 3-2) can be followed via live stats or watched live on ESPN+. Click here to purchase tickets.
Lance Medow (play-by-play) and Barry Rohrssen (analyst) will have the call for both games.
News/Notes
Opening Tip-Off
Columbia has the sixth-best rebounding margin in the country, ranks 12th nationally in defensive rebounds per game and 16th in rebounds per game. Through five Ivy League games, Columbia leads the conference in offensive rebounds (59).
The Lions snapped a three-game losing streak on Saturday with a 79-69 victory at Dartmouth after closing out the Big Green with a 7-0 run over the final two minutes of play.
Kenny Noland posted his first-ever double-double in the win, dropping a career-best 28 points and 11 rebounds. He was tabbed Ivy League Player of the Week for the third time this season.
The Lions went undefeated at home in non-conference play for a second consecutive season and also entered the Ivy League gauntlet with double-digit wins in back-to-back years.
Kevin Hovde is the first Columbia head coach in his debut season to win 13 of his first 19 games since Lou Rossini started 20-0 in his first season in Morningside Heights in 1950–51.
Suits And Sneakers Week
The Columbia men's basketball coaching staff will participate in Suits and Sneakers Week by wearing custom Air Jordan 1 Lows on Friday, Jan. 30, vs. Penn. The custom sneakers were designed by Jheri "Coco" Cavitt.
For more information on Coaches vs. Cancer's Suits and Sneakers week, visit https://www.cancer.org/about-us/our-partners/sports-alliances/coaches-vs-cancer.html
Last Time Out
Kenny Noland scored a career-best 28 points and recorded his first-ever double-double in Columbia's 79-69 victory at Dartmouth on Saturday afternoon at Leede Arena.
After Dartmouth clawed back to make it a three-point game, the Lions put the game on ice by finishing with a 7-0 run over the final two minutes. Noland hit a layup and after a stop on defense, Ryan Soulis stormed down the paint and slammed home a dunk. The spurt was capped by three free throws from Hampton Sanders with under a minute to go.
Noticing Noland
Senior guard Kenny Noland is on an offensive tear through 19 games this season, averaging a team-best 17.1 points per game. Noland leads the Lions in assists, field goals made, three-point field goals made, free throws made, and minutes per game. Noland's 324 points this season rank second among Ivy League scorers and his 47 three-pointers are tied for the second-most in the league.
On Jan. 24 at Dartmouth, Noland Noland posted 28 points and 11 rebounds (both career highs) for his first-career double-double in the 79-69 win. Noland went 11-11 from the free throw line (also a career-high) and tallied four steals, which tied his career-best. The Apex, N.C. native played all 40 minutes.
Noland's 28 points were the most scored by any Ivy League player amongst Saturday's games and were the most points scored by a Lion on the road since Nov. 13, 2022, at Sacred Heart (Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa, 28). His 28 points were also the most points scored by a Lion in a road Ivy League game since Feb. 15, 2020, at Harvard (Mike Smith, 38).
On Jan. 5 at Cornell, Noland notched his 1,000th career point, becoming the 31st Lion in program history to reach that mark and the first since Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa on Feb. 23, 2024. Noland's 106 steals rank 10th all-time in program history.
The Apex, N.C. native has trumped his career-high in points three times already this year and has recorded eight 20-point performances. Noland went off for an at-the-time career-best 27 points in a win at Lehigh on Nov. 21, where he went 11-18 from the field. He then matched the 27-point mark on Dec. 28 at North Florida.
At 61-64 (95.3 percent) from the charity stripe, Noland leads the country in free throw percentage among qualified players.
Noland has earned three Ivy League Player of the Week honors and was added to the Lou Henson Award Early Season Watch List on Dec. 18, which recognizes the top mid-major players in Division I college basketball.
Thompson Accomplishments
Senior forward Blair Thompson pulled down his 500th career rebound in Saturday's win at Dartmouth, becoming the first Lion to achieve the feat since Mark Cisco in 2012-13.
Thompson joins Gary Raimondo '99CC as the only other Lion to have 500 rebounds and 100 steals in their Columbia careers. The New York, N.Y. native will also play in his 100th career game on Friday.
Memorable Win in Ithaca
The Lions' 104-99 win on Jan. 5 was the highest-scoring game in Columbia-Cornell history (242 games).
Columbia scored 100 points on Cornell for just the second time in series history (103 on Jan. 18, 1957).
The last time Columbia scored over 100 points in an Ivy League game was Feb. 6, 1993, vs. Harvard (W, 101-70).
The last time Columbia scored over 100 points in a road Ivy League game was Feb. 19, 1972, at Harvard (L, 102-100).
Kenny Noland became the 31st Lion in program history to reach 1,000 career points when he hit a free throw with 34 seconds remaining in the game.
Offensive Fireworks
With Jan. 5's 104-point showing at Cornell, the Lions have now scored 100 or more points in three games in a season for the first time since 1976-77.
Columbia recorded 100 or more points in back-to-back games (Dec. 31 vs. PSU Abington and Jan. 5 at Cornell) for the first time since Jan. 1969 (wins over Georgetown and Niagara).
The Lions have had two players with 20 points or more in a game twice this season (Kenny Noland and Blair Thompson on Nov. 26 and Jan. 5), marking the first time that's happened since 2018-2019.
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.
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. Columbia also had six score in double-digits in the Dec. 31 win over PSU Abington.
Seven of Columbia's wins have come by 15 or more points. The Lions are averaging 86.9 points per game in wins this season. Five Lions have scored in double-figures four times this season.
Columbia's 48.5 percent mark from the field ranks 42nd in the country.
Breaking The Glass
In addition to having the sixth-best rebounding margin (11.2) in the country, the Lions lead Ivy League teams in combined rebounds per game (41.6), defensive rebounds per game (28.6), and offensive rebounds per game (13.0). Columbia has out-rebounded its opponent in all 13 wins this season.
The Lions have out-rebounded an opponent by more than 20 boards five times this season (plus-23 vs. UMass Lowell on Nov. 13, plus-25 at Lehigh on Nov. 21, plus-38 vs. Sarah Lawrence on Nov. 29, plus-20 vs. UAlbany on Dec. 6, and plus-42 vs. PSU Abington on Dec. 31). 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. Columbia notched 49 rebounds at Stony Brook on Dec. 9. Previously, the pair of 48-rebound performances against UMass Lowell and Lehigh were 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.
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.
Franklin poured in a career-best 19 points on 6-12 shooting on Dec. 28 at North Florida and has scored double-figures in 10 of his 17 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.
Franklin has been named Ivy League Rookie of the Week four times this season (Nov. 10, Dec. 8, Dec. 29, and Jan. 12).
Series History - Penn
Columbia is 94-151 all-time against the Quakers and looks to snap a three-game losing streak in the series. The Lions' most recent win over Penn was on Jan. 27, 2024, in New York City.
Series History - Princeton
Columbia is 86-165 all-time against the Tigers and seeks its first win in the series since Feb. 17, 2018.
Up Next
Columbia closes out a three-game homestand against Cornell next Saturday, Feb. 7 at 2 p.m.
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.
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/ Men's BasketballHighlights: MBK | Columbia 79, Dartmouth 69
Saturday, January 24
Postgame: MBK | Noland Talks Dartmouth Win After Double-Double Performance
Saturday, January 24
Highlights: MBK | Columbia 74, Yale 91
Monday, January 19
Highlights: MBK | Columbia 80, Brown 86 (OT)
Saturday, January 17
