Preview: Penn Quakers at Columbia Lions NEW YORK (Interstat) — The Columbia Lions, riding high near the top of the Ivy League standings, host the .500 Penn Quakers in a conference men’s basketball matchup Friday night at Levien Gymnasium. Columbia (13-6 overall) enters with momentum after a 79-69 road win at Dartmouth last Saturday, powered by a standout performance from Kenny Noland. The Lions’ season has been marked by strong non-conference results, including wins over North Florida and Albany, but Ivy play has been inconsistent with recent losses to Yale, Brown and Harvard. Penn (9-9) looks to rebound from a 77-60 home loss to Yale, its second straight defeat. The Quakers have shown resilience in close games, with narrow road losses at Harvard and Princeton this month, but have struggled for consistency. The spotlight will be on the teams’ top guards. Columbia’s Kenny Noland is coming off a dominant 29-point, 10-rebound double-double against Dartmouth, showcasing his ability to carry the offense. For Penn, AJ Levine has been a steady force, averaging 16.2 points and 4.6 assists over his last five games, including a 17-point, 7-assist effort in the loss to Yale. The Lions won the first meeting this season, a 72-70 overtime victory at Stony Brook in early December that was part of the non-conference schedule. This contest is the first Ivy League matchup between the teams this season. Columbia’s success has been built on a more potent offense, while Penn has relied on a balanced attack led by Levine, TJ Power and Ethan Roberts. The Quakers will need to contain Noland and limit second-chance opportunities to have a chance on the road. The game tips off at 7 p.m. EST on January 30 as part of a full Ivy League weekend. Columbia hosts Princeton on Saturday, while Penn travels to face Cornell.