Old Westbury vs Columbia prediction: Columbia's second Hovde season opens a homestand against Division III Old Westbury
The Lions' ball security, among the worst in Division I last season, matters more on Nov. 5 than the final score against a Skyline Conference visitor.
- Columbia should control a Division III opponent at Levien Gym; the open question is how cleanly a reshuffled roster takes care of the ball.
- Columbia's offensive glass against a smaller-program frontcourt. The Lions grabbed 37.5% of their misses last season, 13th nationally.
- No spread or total has been posted yet. Last season's 19.3% turnover rate, 331st of 365, is the habit to watch.
A tune-up with a purpose
Kevin Hovde enters his second season at Columbia with a roster that added six first-years and a transfer, Douglas Langford from San Jose State. Nov. 5 is the middle stop of a three-game homestand that opens with Elon on Nov. 2 and closes with Stonehill on Nov. 9. One team schedule page labels the Old Westbury game the season opener, but the August schedule release lists Elon first.
Old Westbury plays Division III ball in the Skyline Conference under Bernard Tomlin, now in his 19th season. The Panthers' last located result was an 89-66 loss at Sarah Lawrence in January.
What last season's Lions did well
Columbia went 16-12 last season and finished 190th in adjusted net efficiency (points per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponents). Its strength was the glass. The Lions rebounded 37.5% of their own misses, 13th in the country, and cleaned up 74.0% of opponents' misses, 27th. They also shot well, posting a 54.3% effective field goal percentage (threes count 1.5 times), 74th nationally.
With six newcomers on the roster, those numbers describe a different group. Treat them as the program's identity, not a forecast.
The habits worth checking
The weaknesses were just as clear. Columbia turned it over on 19.3% of possessions, 331st of 365. It also rarely got to the line and made only 68.9% of its free throws, 299th. A Division III opponent won't test those flaws the way Ivy play will. Still, a clean, low-turnover night would be the first real sign that Hovde's second roster has fixed what held back his first.
In the Ivy preseason poll, Penn was picked first and Columbia landed in the second half of the league with 69 points.
Numbers that matter
| Offensive rebound rate (last season) | 37.5% | Ranked 13th nationally, Columbia's clearest edge on the glass. |
|---|---|---|
| Turnover rate (last season) | 19.3% | Ranked 331st of 365, the habit most worth watching in a low-pressure game. |
| Free throw % (last season) | 68.9% | Ranked 299th, a liability in close Ivy games later on. |
| Effective FG% (last season) | 54.3% | Ranked 74th, the Lions' efficient shooting base. |
Old Westbury vs Columbia: quick answers
When is Old Westbury vs Columbia?
Thursday, November 5, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET.