The Yale Bulldogs (21-6) visit Columbia to play the Lions (21-9) in a game that has the potential to be low-scoring. The game starts at 7:00 pm ET on Saturday, Mar. 5.
The Lions edged Brown 66-63 on Friday. Maodo Lo led all scorers on the team with 23 points on 9-for-15 shooting. The Bulldogs are coming off an 88-64 win over Cornell on Friday. Brandon Sherrod led the game in scoring with 18 points on 6-for-6 shooting.
Lo has really been playing well as of late for the Lions, averaging 18.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.8 three-pointers over the last five games.
The game should be a battle of strength against strength, as the high-powered offense of Columbia (25th in the nation with an offensive efficiency of 114.8) takes on the stingy defense of Yale (seventh in the nation with a defensive efficiency of 94.5). Moreover, the Bulldogs are among the nation’s elite on the offensive backboards, ranking second in OR% at 39.3%. But the Lions rank 22nd at corralling defensive rebounds with a DR% of 73.7%.
This will be the second matchup of the season between these two teams. The Bulldogs won the first game 86-72. Justin Sears was a top performer in the victory with 27 points, seven rebounds, three assists, one steal, one block, and two three-pointers.
The Lions enter the game with records of 21-9 Straight Up (SU) and 10-10-1 Against The Spread (ATS). Few teams in the nation have a higher assist-to-turnover ratio than Columbia, which ranks 42nd at 1.34.
Across the court, the Bulldogs head into the game with records of 10-6-2 ATS and 21-6 SU. The Bulldogs are a force on the boards, grabbing an average of 40.4 rebounds per game. The Bulldogs are one of the top defensive teams on the road, essentially shutting down opponents to the tune of 65.8 points allowed per away game. Teams seem to consistently miss shots against the Bulldogs, who are the 21st-best team in the nation in terms of opponent field goal percentage allowed at .407.
Yale won the last meeting this season between these two teams, bringing its SU record in their most recent games to 7-3. Additionally, with a 7-3 record, Yale has the advantage ATS. When it comes to field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers, Columbia held the edge in all three of these categories once in the last five meetings. Yale never did so in those games.
Predictions: SU Winner – Yale, ATS Winner – Yale
Notes
Columbia averages 76.9 points per game this season. Yale is one of the best teams in points allowed, giving up just 63.4 points per game (ranked 14th).
Columbia scores just 78.5 points per home game (ranked 106th). Yale ranks 18th in points allowed on the road, giving up 65.8 points.
Yale won its last game by a 24-point margin. In games decided by a margin of 18 points or more, Columbia is 5-0. Yale is 12-2 in blowouts this season.
The Yale Bulldogs rank 50th for their offensive rating of 112.6. The Columbia Lions have a defensive rating of 102.6 (ranked 52nd).
The Yale Bulldogs average a field goal percentage of 47.0% this season. The Columbia Lions have split their games this season (4-4) when opponents have a FG% of 47.0% or greater.
The Columbia Lions rank lower for their field goal percentage (103rd) than they do for their effective field goal percentage (35th), but the Yale Bulldogs have a better FG% ranking (40th) than eFG% ranking (67th).
Columbia ranks 92nd in assists, recording 14.7 per game. Yale ranks 66th with 15.1 assists per game.
Yale, the 54th-ranked team in blocked shots, registers an average of 4.5 per game. Columbia does worse, ranked 171st with 3.4.
Columbia ranks 201st in offensive rebounds, while Yale ranks 69th in defensive rebounds.
The Yale Bulldogs make an average of 5.8 steals per game. When the Columbia Lions give up 5 or more steals, they are a winning 10-4.
