Friday, March 6
Cambridge, Mass.
7:00 P.M.
Columbia
16-12,5-9Ivy League
71
at
81
Harvard
17-11,10-4Ivy League
1
2
F
Columbia
33
38
71
Harvard
38
43
81
Photo by: Harvard Athletics
Men’s Basketball Comes Up Short in Season Finale at Harvard, 81-71
3/6/2026 9:06:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Noland and Thompson end their Columbia careers with double-figure scoring performances
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Columbia men's basketball competed hard for 40 minutes in its 2025-26 season finale, but fell to Harvard, 81-71, on Friday night from Lavietes Pavilion.
Connor Igoe recorded his fifth double-double to cap an impressive rookie season, sinking 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Blair Thompson went 8-14 from the field for 18 points in his final game as a Lion and added eight boards.
Kenny Noland had 17 points, seven assists, three rebounds, and three steals to wrap up his Columbia career. Noland completed his career by solidifying his name in the program's record book in several categories: 111 games played (tied for fifth); 1,225 points (14th); 281 assists (10th); 126 steals (fourth).
Harvard (17-11, 10-4) shot 53.8 percent to Columbia's 43.5 percent mark. The Lions (16-12, 5-9) were just 5-20 from three-point range.
Igoe and Miles Franklin combined for nine of Columbia's first 11 points over the opening nine-plus minutes of the game. Columbia trailed 15-11 at the under-12 media timeout.
After going down six, Franklin stuffed home a dunk and then 16 seconds later off a turnover finished a strong and-one with 7:12 before the break to bring the score to 22-20, Harvard.
Noland scored nine-straight points for the Lions later in the half to keep the margin within single digits. Soulis slipped in a jumper in the pain before time expired and Columbia trailed at the half, 38-33.
A quick 5-0 Columbia run out of the break tied the score. With 12:49 left in the game, Gerard O'Keefe's triple put the Lions in front, 48-47. It was Columbia's first lead since its basket to open the game. From that point until just under the five-minute mark, the margin didn't go above five and there were five ties.
Harvard went on a 9-0 spurt to lead 75-65 with 3:15 to go. The run was capped by four-straight Crimson free throws. Noland and Thompson had back-to-back buckets, but Columbia couldn't get back in reach. The Crimson led by eight with under a minute to go and closed out the victory.
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.
Connor Igoe recorded his fifth double-double to cap an impressive rookie season, sinking 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Blair Thompson went 8-14 from the field for 18 points in his final game as a Lion and added eight boards.
Kenny Noland had 17 points, seven assists, three rebounds, and three steals to wrap up his Columbia career. Noland completed his career by solidifying his name in the program's record book in several categories: 111 games played (tied for fifth); 1,225 points (14th); 281 assists (10th); 126 steals (fourth).
Harvard (17-11, 10-4) shot 53.8 percent to Columbia's 43.5 percent mark. The Lions (16-12, 5-9) were just 5-20 from three-point range.
Igoe and Miles Franklin combined for nine of Columbia's first 11 points over the opening nine-plus minutes of the game. Columbia trailed 15-11 at the under-12 media timeout.
After going down six, Franklin stuffed home a dunk and then 16 seconds later off a turnover finished a strong and-one with 7:12 before the break to bring the score to 22-20, Harvard.
Noland scored nine-straight points for the Lions later in the half to keep the margin within single digits. Soulis slipped in a jumper in the pain before time expired and Columbia trailed at the half, 38-33.
A quick 5-0 Columbia run out of the break tied the score. With 12:49 left in the game, Gerard O'Keefe's triple put the Lions in front, 48-47. It was Columbia's first lead since its basket to open the game. From that point until just under the five-minute mark, the margin didn't go above five and there were five ties.
Harvard went on a 9-0 spurt to lead 75-65 with 3:15 to go. The run was capped by four-straight Crimson free throws. Noland and Thompson had back-to-back buckets, but Columbia couldn't get back in reach. The Crimson led by eight with under a minute to go and closed out the victory.
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.
Team Stats
CU
HU
FG%
.435
.538
3FG%
.250
.435
FT%
.545
.833
RB
35
35
TO
8
11
STL
8
6
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
17
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballHighlights: MBK | Columbia 71, Harvard 81
Friday, March 06
Highlights: MBK | Columbia 54, Yale 60
Saturday, February 28
Highlights: MBK | Columbia 80, Brown 62
Friday, February 27
Postgame: MBK | Connor Igoe and Coach Hovde after Brown
Friday, February 27
