Columbia Basketball Faces Golden Bears in California Showdown After Near Comeback
Columbia men’s basketball returns to action after a hard-fought stretch, traveling to Berkeley, California, to take on the California Golden Bears at Haas Pavilion on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET. Fans can follow the game via live stats or watch it live on ACC Network+,with Greg Mescall and Ben Braun on the call.
Lions Poised for Success
The Columbia Lions (9-2) are off to thier best start in over a decade,currently ranked within the top 50 nationally in rebounds per game,offensive rebounds per game,defensive rebounds per game,three-point percentage,scoring defense,and overall winning percentage. This marks the team’s first trip to California since November 24, 2012, when they faced San Francisco.
A Tough Loss at Stony Brook
Columbia’s eight-game winning streak was recently snapped in a thrilling, yet ultimately heartbreaking, 77-73 overtime loss to Stony Brook on December 9th. Despite trailing by 14 points with just 2:54 remaining in regulation, the Lions mounted a remarkable 18-4 run, capped by a layup from Ryan Soulis with 27 seconds left, to force the extra period. “The team showed incredible resilience to fight back from that deficit,” noted one observer. However, Stony Brook ultimately prevailed, sealing the victory with late free throws.
Noland Shines,Franklin Impresses
Senior guard Kenny Noland led Columbia in the Stony Brook game with a dominant performance,scoring 24 points,dishing out a career-high nine assists,and grabbing four rebounds. Soulis and Connor Igoe also contributed double-figure scoring with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Adding to the excitement surrounding the program is the impressive play of freshman guard Miles Franklin. Franklin has quickly become a key contributor, showcasing his scoring ability and defensive prowess. He shined in his collegiate debut,tallying 13 points on perfect shooting against Sarah Lawrence.
Historic Start for Coach Hovde
First-year head coach Kevin Hovde is enjoying a remarkable start to his tenure, becoming the first Columbia coach to win nine of his first 11 games since Lou Rossini began his career with a 20-0 record in the 1950-51 season.
Offensive Prowess and Rebounding Dominance
Columbia’s offense has been firing on all cylinders, recently scoring 106 points against Fairfield on November 26th – their first 100-point game against a Division I opponent in over a decade. The Lions shot an impressive 62.5% from the field in that contest. They are currently ranked 38th nationally in three-point shooting, connecting on 38% of their attempts from beyond the arc.
Beyond scoring, columbia’s dominance on the glass has been a defining characteristic of their success. The team leads the Ivy League in combined team rebounds per game (44.1) and offensive rebounds per game (13.8), consistently out-rebounding opponents – including a staggering plus-38 margin against Sarah Lawrence on November 29th. .
Chasing History: Noland and Brown Near 1,000 points
Both Kenny Noland (940 points) and avery Brown (862 points) are within striking distance of reaching the 1,000-point milestone for their careers. Geronimo Rubio De la Rosa was the last lion to achieve this feat, reaching the mark on February 23, 2024.
Series History with California
Columbia and California are set to meet for the sixth time in program history. The Lions are seeking their first non-forfeit win in the series,with the last meeting resulting in an 85-66 Cal victory on December 27,2003.
looking Ahead
Following the game against California, Columbia will travel to Jacksonville to face North Florida on Sunday, December 28th, at 2 p.m. for their first-ever matchup.
For the latest updates on Columbia men’s basketball, follow @CULionsMBB on X and Instagram, search Columbia men’s basketball on Facebook, or visit GoColumbiaLions.com.
