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Penn-Columbia preview: Quakers take on downtrodden Lions

The Quakers enter this weekend in a first place tie with Harvard with six games remaining.

Shavar Newkirk, center, of St. Joseph’s gets stripped of the ball as he drives the lane against Penn during the 1st half at the Palestra on Jan 27, 2018. AJ Brodeur is left. CHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Shavar Newkirk, center, of St. Joseph’s gets stripped of the ball as he drives the lane against Penn during the 1st half at the Palestra on Jan 27, 2018. AJ Brodeur is left. CHARLES FOX / Staff PhotographerRead moreCharles Fox

Penn (17-7, 7-1 Ivy League) at Columbia (6-15, 3-5)

Friday, 7 p.m., Levien Gym (New York, N.Y.)

TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia

Radio: WNPT-AM 990

Livestream: http://www.ivyleaguenetwork.com/ivyleague/game/ncaa-mens-basketball-penn-at-columbia-on-02162018?_ga=2.137063728.1889803467.1518111848-1207816715.1516731156

Coaches: Penn, Steve Donahue (3rd season, 41-39; overall, 241-253); Columbia, Jim Engles (2nd season, 17-31; overall, 127-140)

Series: Penn leads, 141-91.

Last meeting: Sophomore forward AJ Brodeur scored 30 points and 6-5 sophomore Ryan Betley added 20 as Penn beat Columbia, 77-71 on Jan. 13 at the Palestra

The latest: With six games left Penn and Harvard are tied for first in the Ivy League, three games up on both Brown and Yale. … The Quakers saw their five-game win streak end with Saturday's 76-67 loss at Harvard. … Betley averages a team-high 14.7 points for the Quakers. … Penn has lost its last five games at Levien Gym and seven of the last eight. … Columbia 5-foot-11 sophomore Mike Smith is averaging a team-high 17.3 points, which is fourth in the Ivy League. … The Lions' last four losses have been by six or fewer points, including Saturday's 91-88 overtime loss at Brown. … In the loss to Brown, the Lions had three players score 20 or more points, led by Smith's 22.

-Marc Narducci