CU Tries for Wins in Unforgiving Arenas

By every measure, the seniors playing their last games for Columbia this weekend comprise one of the most successful classes in the history of the men’s basketball program. This weekend, they will make a final attempt at one of the few things that they—and their coach—have never accomplished: winning on the road against Penn and Princeton. The Killer P’s, the league’s two traditional powers, are the weakest they’ve been in years, giving Columbia its best chance to avenge a stretch of bitter losses.

On Friday, the Lions play at Jadwin Gymnasium, a site of memorable games they wish could be forgotten. It’s been 14 years since Columbia won at Princeton, with half those losses in the double digits. Last season, despite strong performances from both Pat Foley, CC ’10 and John Baumann, CC ’08, Columbia faltered in the final minutes and narrowly lost, 54-49. It was the season before, however, that made the strongest impression. Columbia held the lead multiple times in the final minutes, only to make a series of mental mistakes that allowed the Tigers to force overtime. But the biggest mistake would come in the extra period. Trailing by two with possession, then-senior Dalen Cuff, CC ’06, called a time-out not knowing that his team was out of them, forcing a pair of technical free throws that iced the win for Princeton.

Columbia won the first meeting of the season by 5 points but could never quite put the Tigers away. The Lions defended the perimeter well, holding their opponent under 30 percent from long distance, and they shot over 50 percent from the field. Poor free throw shooting prevented them from taking a commanding lead, and despite a significant height advantage, Columbia was out-rebounded, allowing Princeton eight offensive rebounds.

Columbia won convincingly against the Quakers in the team’s first meeting, taking the lead early and going ahead by as many as 21 points during the game. But Penn was without Tyler Bernardini, and with their second-leading scorer and top outside shooter back, the Quakers should prove a tougher opponent on their home court. Columbia hasn’t won at the Palestra since 2000.

The game will likely determine third place in the league, and a pair of wins this weekend would give Columbia its best record in 15 years. Columbia holds a half-game advantage, but the Lions have played poorly in their last two games and are trying to recover. This weekend will also be John Baumann’s last opportunity to make a case for himself in the player-of-the-year race. The senior forward is in a virtual tie for both the league’s scoring and rebounding titles, but he will likely need a big weekend to overcome his team’s place in the standings.

Tip-off for both games is at 7 p.m.