Columbia 53 – LIU 49
Not one player on the team was alive the last time the Columbia Lions had a start like this.
Not since the 1979-80 season had Columbia started 3-0.
That 25-year drought ended last night with Columbia’s 53-49 win over LIU at Levien Gym in Manhattan.
And to think, just two years ago, the Lions didn’t win three games all season.
“We’ve always played hard,” said senior captain Matt Preston. “But this year, each guy has gotten better. All in all, we’ve come together.”
You can point to Preston, who scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds last night, for the resurgence. Or you can tab the four freshmen who regularly add a jolt and make you feel like the next 3-0 start won’t take another 2 ½ decades.
But though he refuses to accept it, Lion coach Joe Jones must receive a brunt of the credit.
“This is going to sound corny, but we’re winning because of the fact that we have great players in the program,” said Jones, who is in his second season at Columbia. “The best programs have the best type of kids. I get this feeling when I’m around them. I get this great feeling about being a part of this.”
LIU coach Jim Ferry knows a lot of the accolades belong at Jones’ feet.
“Joe’s come in here and he just filled it up with energy,” Ferry said.
That energy is exactly what got Columbia its third win. The Lions suffocated and frustrated a speedy LIU offense, taking charges and refusing to allow the Blackbirds a shot without at least one hand in their face.
And they won it with Preston’s uncanny post-up ability. The Lions would clear out to get Preston alone in the paint, dump it down to their captain, and Preston would inevitably run back up court with a couple more points in his pocket.
“We couldn’t contain Matt,” Ferry said. “When he slides to the four, he’s so tough to guard. He can put it up with either hand and he’s athletic.”
Looking around, you can see the campus buzz that this 3-0 start has created. Preston yesterday said he opened his e-mail to find that members of the student body were starting a cheering section devoted to the “beloved coach Joe Jones and the Columbia Lions basketball team. ”
“There’s definitely an optimism here that I haven’t seen since I got here [three years ago],” Preston said.