Ivy League Showdown: Men’s Basketball Kicks Off Weekend at Yale!

Scott Cordischi and Russ Tyler ’71 will deliver live coverage on the Brown Varsity Network, which fans can access through the Brown Bears app, Varsity Network app, or BrownBears.com. The contest will also be streamed live on ESPNU.

Previous Match Recap

Brown wrapped up non-conference play with a decisive 98-57 victory against Johnson & Wales (Jan. 5). Kino Lilly Jr. spearheaded the offensive effort for the Bears, scoring 16 points on 6-14 shooting from the field. N’famara Dabo achieved his initial career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Alexander Lesburt Jr. also contributed in double digits with 11 points from 4-7 shooting from the field and 3-6 from beyond the arc.

Record Achieved, The Pursuit Continues

Kino Lilly Jr. has now established himself as the all-time leader in the program’s history with 290 three-pointers made. He also currently ranks third all-time in career points with 1,558, needing just 11 more points to secure the second spot.

Lilly Jr. stands third in Ivy League history for three-pointers made, being just 10 away from becoming the third player in Ivy League history to surpass the 300 mark for triples.

Ivy Iverson

Kino Lilly Jr. is currently averaging 19.4 points with a shooting percentage of 42.3 from the field, and 41.7 from three-point range this season. The senior is averaging 3.85 three-pointers each game and is on track to achieve 107 triples, which would shatter Brown’s single-season record of 93 held by Sean McGonagill from the 2013-14 season; Lilly Jr. hit 90 triples during the 2023-24 campaign.

Lilly Jr’s pace would place him second in Ivy League history for the most three-pointers made in a single season, trailing only Ryan Wittman of Cornell, who made 109 during the 2009-10 season.

Lilly Jr’s average of 3.85 three-pointers ranks fourth nationally, while his total of 50 three-pointers made is 13th in the nation. The senior has recorded 61 games scoring double digits and 35 games with 20 points or more as a Bear.

Cooley’s Ongoing Excellence

Aaron Cooley is averaging 11.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game; the senior has scored in double figures in nine out of 13 matches, achieving three double-doubles.Cooley attained a career-best of 19 points in Brown’s 84-80 double overtime triumph against Rhode Island (Dec. 10), along with achieving a career-high of four blocks against the Rams.

He also recorded a personal best of 15 rebounds during Brown’s season opener at Siena (Nov. 4). Cooley’s 15 rebounds represent the second-highest by any Ivy League player this season; he has achieved double-digit rebounds in four encounters.

Cooley is converting 46.7 percent of his field goals this season and leads the Ivy League with 5.31 defensive rebounds per contest, being second in the league with 7.0 rebounds per game.

Lewis’ Advancement

With Nana Owusu-Anane sidelined, Landon Lewis has scored in double figures in 11 of 12 games played this season. Lewis achieved a career-high of 21 points in Brown’s win against Bryant (Dec. 6) on 9-12 shooting from the field.

Lewis notched his first career double-double in Brown’s victory over Sacred Heart (Nov. 17) with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and followed up with 17 points (8-11) scoring at Canisius (Nov. 23).

Lewis’ average of 3.0 offensive rebounds per game ranks him first in the Ivy League, while his average of 6.9 rebounds per game puts him fifth in the Ivy League. Additionally, his 61.9 field goal percentage is 17th in the country.The Los Angeles, California native is averaging 14.0 points and 6.9 rebounds per game this season.

Defensively, Lewis has recorded four or more blocks on three occasions; his average of 1.75 blocks per game ranks 52nd nationally while his 21 total blocks place him third in the Ivy League.

Non-Conference Overview

Brown concluded non-conference games with an 8-5 record, marking the ninth occasion where Brown has finished non-conference play with a winning record under Mike Martin ’04, with the Bears’ 8-5 record being the best non-conference tally under Martin ’04.

Brown’s six-game winning streak is the second time under Mike Martin ’04 that the Bears have captured six straight victories, and the second instance in successive seasons, as Brown concluded the 2023-24 regular season with a six-game winning streak.

This winning stretch matched the longest non-conference winning streak under Martin ’04 (2018-19), which is the longest run against D1 opponents. Brown’s six-game non-conference winning streak during the 2018-19 campaign included a win over Salve Regina (D3).

Brown’s 7-3 record through the season’s initial 10 games is the best 10-game start under Martin ’04, and the finest 10-game start since the 2001-02 season. After starting off 1-3, Brown surged with six consecutive victories to reach 7-3 ahead of matches against top-10 teams Kansas and Kentucky.

On Dec. 10,

Brown defeated the previously unbeaten Rhode Island (9-0), 84-80 in double overtime at the Pizzitola Sports Center (Dec. 10), marking their sixth successive victory.

Of the six victories, two were against the elite of the America East, Vermont (Dec. 3) and Bryant (Dec. 6). Both wins occurred on the road, with both teams having previously bested the Bears during the 2023-24 season.

Vermont has clinched the America East title in five of the last six seasons, including a streak of three consecutive titles. The defeat to the Bears ended their 14-game home winning streak and was only their third loss at Patrick Gymnasium in the last three seasons.

In-state competitor Bryant was ranked third in the America East; Brown’s triumph at Bryant featured 26 lead changes, and Kino Lilly Jr.‘s decisive three-pointer with 2.2 seconds remaining secured a 76-75 victory for the Bears.

The Rise Of Dabo

N’famara Dabo achieved a career-high 12 points and 10 rebounds in Brown’s non-conference finale victory against Johnson & Wales (Jan. 5).

Dabo’s first career double-double coincided with his inaugural start; over the last five contests, Dabo has shot 12-19 from the field and is averaging 6.4 rebounds per game. During this five-game phase, Dabo averages 2.2 blocks per game and has recorded nine blocks in a three-game span against Bryant, Rhode Island, and Kansas.

Block Party

Brown is positioned 24th nationally and first in the Ivy League with 5.3 blocks per game, achieving at least five blocks in seven out of 13 games this season. Brown noted a season-high of 11 blocks versus Rhode Island (Dec. 10).

The Bears have two athletes who have recorded a minimum of five blocks in a single game this season: N’famara Dabo (Nov. 15) and Landon Lewis (Nov. 16). Both Lewis and Dabo have achieved three or more blocks in three contests this season.

Dabo ranks second in the Ivy League with 1.82 blocks per game, while Lewis stands third in the Ivy League with 1.80 blocks per game. Brown claims four of the top five performances in total blocks by an Ivy League team this season, highlighted by their 11 blocks against Rhode Island.

Defensive Strength

The Bears sit second in the Ivy League for scoring defense (70.2), also ranking third in the Ivy League in opponent field goal percentage (42.4%). Brown’s three-point shooting defense stands second in the Ivy League (32.2%), with the Bears permitting the fewest three-point field goals in the league.

In their victory over Vermont, the Bears restricted the Catamounts to a mere six points in the last 8:18 of the matchup.

Brown limited Stony Brook to just one successful three-pointer (1-16), the least since the Bears allowed a single three against Colorado (Nov. 22, 2021).

Brown is averaging 5.3 blocks and 6.3 steals per game.

The Bears have four of the top five total block performances by an Ivy League team this season, particularly highlighted by their 11 blocks against Rhode Island. These 11 blocks represent the highest for an Ivy League team this season, followed by nine blocks at Siena (Nov. 4), eight against New Hampshire (Nov. 15), and seven versus Holy Cross (Nov. 16).

Landon Lewis (Holy Cross) and N’famara Dabo’s (New Hampshire) five blocks are the second-most in a single game by an Ivy League player this season. Moreover, Lewis’ four blocks (against Siena & Rhode Island) and Aaron Cooley’s four blocks (Rhode Island) also mark the second-most blocks by an Ivy League player this season.

In the contest against Rhode Island, three Bears (Cooley, Lewis, Dabo) recorded at least three blocks, while five players (Lewis, Jenkins, Lilly Jr., Erold, Dabo) achieved a minimum of two steals. Cooley and Jenkins topped the list with four steals each.

Brown caused a season-high 21 turnovers during their game against Rhode Island.

Distributing The Wealth

Brown amassed 27 assists on 31 successful field goals in their 89-70 victory over Sacred Heart. The Bears also recorded 27 assists on 37 successful field goals in their non-conference finale against Johnson & Wales.

The Bears’ 27 assists represented the highest total since they tallied 26 assists in an 88-42 victory against Lyndon State (Jan. 12, 2015). Brown has recorded double-digit assists in 11 out of 13 games this season and achieved 20 or more assists four times.

Brown also achieved 20 assists in their win against Stony Brook, with 14 assists occurring on 17 successful field goals in the opening half against the Seawolves. The Bears noted 20 assists on 32 successful field goals in their triumph over Rhode Island, with Kino Lilly Jr. equaling a career-high with 10 assists in that game.

As a collective unit, Brown is averaging 15.2 assists per game this season.

Providence Three Party

The Bears have successfully made at least five three-pointers in each of their 13 games this season and have hit double-digit threes in four of those games.

Brown’s total of 15 three-pointers against Sacred Heart marked the most since they made 16 against Dartmouth (Mar. 2, 2024), being the only instance since the 2008-09 season where Brown has connected on at least 15 threes.

Since the 2015-16 season, Brown has hit 15 triples on five distinct occasions. Additionally, the Bears made 14 three-pointers in their non-conference finale against Johnson & Wales. In their victories over Sacred Heart, Canisius, and Stony Brook, Brown shot a collective 37-88 (42.0%) during that three-game duration.

Brown shot 6-15 from distance in their victory at Bryant, including an impressive 4-5 in the second half. Kino Lilly Jr. shot a perfect 3-3 from beyond thearc in the latter portion against the Bulldogs.

Analyzing Yale (7-6)

Yale hosts Brown boasting a 4-0 standing at home this season, with Riley Fox earning Ivy League Rookie of the Week recognition on Monday after contributing 11 points in the Bulldogs’ 93-65 triumph over Howard in their non-conference conclusion.

John Poulakidas tops the Ivy League with an average of 20.7 points per game; he is one of three Bulldogs reaching double figures in scoring. Nick Townsend (13.4) and Bez Mbeng (11.0) also represent the other two Bulldogs exhibiting double-digit averages.

Upcoming Matches

Brown will head back home to face Harvard on Saturday, Jan. 18, with the game starting at 2:00 p.m. at the Pizzitola Sports Center. Supporters can acquire tickets here.

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