The Furman men’s basketball team opens its 29-game regular season schedule on Saturday when it hosts Ivy League member Columbia University in a 7 p.m. contest on YP.com Court at Timmons Arena. Saturday’s season opener marks the third all-time meeting between the Paladins and Lions with the series knotted at 1-1. Columbia, under the guidance of head coach Tom Penders, claimed a 93-79 victory in Greenville in the first meeting between the schools on December 29, 1976, before Furman evened the series with a 62-58 triumph in New York, N.Y., last November. You can hear Saturday night’s game live on 96.3 WGOG following completion of the Furman/Appalachian State football broadcast.