Columbia University-Barnard Lions Defeat Princeton Tigers 75-65 Behind Balanced Scoring

The Columbia University-Barnard Lions secured a 75-65 victory over the Princeton Tigers, led by Blair Thompson's 14 points. Columbia outscored Princeton 45-34 in the second half, overcoming a 1-point deficit at halftime. The Lions' 75 points marked their 12th game this season with 70 or more points, while Princeton's 65 points were 11 below their season average. Princeton's Dalen Davis had a game-high 19 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome Columbia's balanced scoring attack, which featured three players with 11 or more points.

The game was closely contested in the first half, with Princeton taking a 31-30 lead into the break. However, Columbia came out strong in the second half, outscoring Princeton 20-10 over the first 8 minutes to take a 50-41 lead. Princeton's Jackson Hicke scored 18 points, including 4 three-pointers, but the Tigers couldn't overcome Columbia's 45-34 advantage in the second half. Columbia's Mason Ritter added 11 points and 5 rebounds, while Miles Franklin chipped in with 12 points. The Lions' 10-point victory marked their 5th win by 10 or more points this season, and improved their record to 15-9.

Dalen Davis led all scorers with 19 points for Princeton, while Blair Thompson paced Columbia with 14 points. Jackson Hicke added 18 points for the Tigers, including 4 three-pointers, while Malik Abdullahi contributed 14 points and 7 rebounds. For Columbia, Miles Franklin scored 12 points, and Mason Ritter had 11 points and 5 rebounds. The two teams combined for 140 points, with Columbia shooting 49% from the field and Princeton shooting 44%. The Tigers' 65 points were their 10th lowest output of the season, and marked their 12th loss in their last 17 games.

Columbia outscored Princeton 45-34 in the second half, and outrebounded the Tigers 32-28. The Lions shot 49% from the field, including 40% from three-point range, while Princeton shot 44% from the field and 36% from three-point range. Columbia committed 12 turnovers, while Princeton had 15. The Lions' 75 points marked their highest output in their last 5 games, and improved their average score to 72.1 points per game. Princeton's 65 points were their 5th lowest output in their last 10 games, and dropped their average score to 69.4 points per game.

The CHD Scout predicted a Princeton victory by 6.2 points, but the Tigers ultimately lost by 10. The predicted score was 76-70 in favor of Princeton, but Columbia's strong second half propelled them to a 75-65 victory. The CHD Scout was incorrect in its prediction, as Columbia's balanced scoring attack and strong rebounding proved too much for the Tigers. Princeton's Dalen Davis had a strong game with 19 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome Columbia's team effort. The Lions' 10-point victory marked their 3rd win in their last 5 games, and improved their record against Quadrant 4 opponents to 8-5.

The loss dropped Princeton's record to 8-17, and marked their 5th consecutive loss. The game was a Quadrant 4 matchup for both teams, and Columbia's victory improved their record against Q4 opponents to 8-5. Princeton's NET ranking fell to 246, while Columbia's NET ranking improved to 188. The Lions' 10-point victory marked their 5th win by 10 or more points this season, and improved their chances of earning a postseason berth. Columbia's resume now features 15 wins, including 5 against Quadrant 4 opponents, and their NET ranking of 188 puts them in position to potentially earn an at-large bid.

Columbia University-Barnard will face Harvard on February 18, while Princeton will host Penn on February 17. Both games matters for the teams' postseason hopes, as they look to improve their records and NET rankings. Columbia's 15-9 record puts them in a strong position, but they must continue to win to stay in contention for a postseason berth. Princeton's 8-17 record makes their chances of earning a postseason bid slim, but they can still play spoiler and affect the chances of other teams in the conference.