Blair Thompson

Brown men’s basketball dominates Columbia, 86-61, for third straight win

by

The Brown men’s basketball team combined unselfish offensive play with a strong defensive effort to cruise to an easy 86-61 victory over Columbia in a Friday evening tussle at the Pizzitola Sports Center.

The victory avenges a 74-72 loss at Levien Gymnasium on February 8.

Since that defeat, Mike Martin’s Bears (13-10, 5-5 Ivy) have won three in a row and moved into a tie for fourth place with Cornell.

While Bruno continues its drive towards its second consecutive appearance in the Ivy League Tournament, Jim Engles’ Lions (12-11, 1-9), which have suffered defeats in three straight games and 10 of their last 11, has officially been eliminated from the postseason.

Read more

Hot shooting leads Harvard men’s basketball to 87-75 win over Columbia

by

Behind a career high 31-point performance from sophomore forward Thomas Batties II, the Harvard men cruised to an 87-75 victory over visiting Columbia at Lavietes Pavilion on Saturday night.

The win gave head coach Tommy Amaker his 301st as head coach at Cambridge and, coupled with a 75-73 triumph over Cornell on Friday night, a weekend sweep of the Empire State Ivies. The Crimson (9-13, 4-5 Ivy) finish the weekend where it started, in fifth place in the conference, only one game out of the running for the Ivy Tournament.

The Lions (12-10, 1-8), which lost to Dartmouth by 22 points the previous evening, have been in the loss column for nine of its last ten contests, including five of six since leading scorer Geronimo Rubio De La Rosa went down to an injury. Jim Engles’ squad heads back to New York City in sole possession of last place.

Read more

LISTEN: How Princeton men’s basketball completed another comeback to clip Columbia, 71-67

by

Ivy Hoops Online correspondent George “Toothless Tiger” Clark reflects on a 71-67 comeback win to remember for Princeton (14-4, 3-0 Ivy) over Columbia (11-5, 0-3) at Jadwin Gym Monday:

Audio Player

After loss at Rutgers, it may be now or never for Columbia men’s basketball

by
Pictured is Jersey Mike’s Arena, the setting of Columbia’s 91-64 loss to Rutgers Monday. (Ray Curren/Ivy Hoops Online)

 

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – You won’t ever get a coach to say a season is now or never, but for Jim Engles and Columbia this season, it might be that time.


It’s Engles’ ninth year in charge of the program, and Columbia hasn’t had more than five Ivy League wins in any of the first seven seasons. On a macro level, that’s not an aberration. The Lions haven’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 1968 and before Kyle Smith’s two winning seasons, Columbia hadn’t had a winning record in Ivy play since legendary coach Jack Rohan (who was also in charge in 1968) did it in 1991-92.

Read more

Columbia men’s basketball uses dominant second-half performance to down Fairfield, 85-72

by

After finding itself down nine at the half to Fairfield, the Columbia men’s basketball team found its offensive groove over the final 20 minutes, outscoring its opponents by 22 points to come away with a convincing 85-72 victory at Levien Gymnasium Saturday afternoon.

The win puts Jim Engles’ Lions at 11-1 on the season, including a perfect 8-0 record at home. Meanwhile, the Stags, which were undefeated when leading at the midway point this season, ended the day at 5-8.

Read more

How Columbia men’s basketball held on for 76-75 win over Lehigh

by

Up 71-58 with 2:30 left in regulation, the Columbia men looked well on their way to a comfortable victory at Levien Gymnasium, but Lehigh rode a huge 17-4 run to knot the game at 75 with seconds on the clock.

A controversial foul on the Mountain Hawks sent Lions junior guard Avery Brown to the line with 0.8 left, and the junior guard sank one of two free throws to seal the deal.

The relieved Lions are 4-0 for the first time since 2005, while a frustrated Lehigh sits at 0-3.

Read more

Brown men’s basketball beats Columbia, 66-64, to create three-way tie for fourth place

by

Columbia men’s basketball battled back several times against Brown on Friday evening, eventually taking its first lead with 4:10 to go. But clutch defense and free throw shooting helped the Bears claim a hard fought 68-66 victory at Levien Gymnasium.

The win for Brown (8-17, 4-6 Ivy), coupled with Harvard’s loss to Princeton, leaves the Bears, Columbia (13-10, 4-6) and Harvard tied for fourth place and the final spot in the Ivy League Tournament with only four games remaining in the regular season.

Read more

Ivy hoops roundup – Recruits and assistants coming, transfers going

by

Our latest Ivy hoops roundup features critical hires amid new starts for Harvard and Yale women’s basketball, an especially promising recruiting class for the Princeton women, some big men’s graduate transfer losses and more:

Princeton women introduce No. 19 class of recruits 

Princeton women’s basketball announced what ESPN.com deemed the No. 19 recruiting class in the nation:

Read more