Saturday, March 8th, 7:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: The Palestra (8,700) -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Television: None. Home Record: Columbia 8-6, Penn 8-8. Away Record: Columbia 6-8, Penn 3-10. Neutral Record: Columbia 0-0, Penn 0-0. Conference Record: Columbia 7-6, Penn 6-6. Series Record: Penn leads, 131-81.

GAME NOTES: A couple of Ivy League programs trying to rebound from a loss just last night face off at The Palestra this evening, as the Columbia Lions challenge the Penn Quakers. The Lions hit the road on Friday and ended up with a 75-64 setback at Princeton. It was the second straight loss for Columbia, which dropped to an even 14-14 overall and 7-6 in conference game. This will be the Lions' final game of the season. As for Penn, it took Ivy League champion Cornell to the wire last night, but it was unable to come out on top in a 94-92 decision. The loss was the second in a row for the Quakers, who dripped to 11-18 overall and an even 6-6 within the conference. Penn will wrap up its season against Princeton on Tuesday. The Quakers lead the all-time series with Columbia, 131-81, but the Lions captured a 74-58 victory in the first meeting of the season.

The Lions turned the ball over 14 times and were outscored at the foul line, 18-6, in a 75-64 loss at Princeton last night. Columbia made 47.3 percent of its attempts from the floor, but it allowed Princeton to shoot an even better 53.2 percent from the field. John Baumann paced the team in defeat with 21 points and five boards, while Niko Scott had 20 points and three helpers. Coming into the game, Baumann led the team in both scoring (15.9 ppg) and rebounding (6.8 rpg) and he was the only player on the roster averaging in double figures. As a team, prior to last night's game, the Lions were turning in 63.5 ppg on 41.7 percent shooting from the field.

In a wild affair, it was Cornell's 27-19 edge in free-throw points that made the difference in a 94-92 victory over Penn last night. The Quakers shot a solid 50.0 percent from the field, including a 9-of-22 effort from downtown, but it wasn't enough to sent Cornell to its first Ivy League loss. Tyler Bernardini guided the club in the loss with 25 points and a pair of steals, while Brian Grandieri posted 21 points and seven rebounds. Head into last night, Grandieri led the club in scoring (13.1 ppg) as well as rebounding (5.8 rpg), while Bernardini checked in with 12.4 ppg. Penn, as a unit, came into last night's bout averaging 67.0 ppg, but giving up a much higher 75.0 ppg.

The Quakers have the luxury of hosting this game and that should help them overcome Columbia tonight.

Predicted Outcome

Penn 67, Columbia 63