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By: Stephen Williams

COLUMBUS – Scoring 53 points in the first half, the Columbus State University men's basketball team rolled to a 91-72 victory over Middle Georgia State in Saturday's season opener. The non-conference contest was played in the Lumpkin Center.
 
Five different Cougars scored in double figures led by 23 points from Cam Baker, who also added six assists. Brent Jackson and JaCori Payne each registered career highs with 20 and 15 points, respectively. Brentine Taylor finished with 15 as well, while Arben Camaj registered a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds.
 
"We got off to a slow start, but we shot the ball well and had a lot of players contribute today," said sixth year head coach Robert Moore. "There are plenty of things for us to work on going forward, but I'm pleased with it for our first game."
 
Payne buried a three-pointer on the opening possession for the Cougars, but it was Middle Georgia State that controlled the opening minutes. The Knights ran off eight straight points to take an 8-3 lead before the CSU offense would get going.
 
Baker became instant offense off the bench for Columbus State (1-0) scoring five straight to tie the game at eight and adding a three to push CSU in front at 11-10. Jackson took over from there dropping in the next nine points for the Cougars, including a four-point play.
 
Camaj and Payne each added threes as part of a 14-0 run for CSU that blew the lead out to 16 points midway through the opening half.
 
The lead continued to grow, reaching as much as 26 (50-24) with four minutes to play in the first period. Middle Georgia would close the first 20 minutes on a 13-3 run to cut the CSU lead to just 53-37 at the break.
 
Columbus State opened the second half with five straight points on a longball from Baker and free throws from Taylor, bumping the lead back out to 23 on a long jumper from DeMarcus McVay.
 
Back-to-back baskets from Camaj with under 11 minutes remaining ballooned the lead out to its largest point of the day at 29 (74-45) as the Cougars cruised down the home stretch.
 
Middle Georgia got back within 15 with just under five to play, but the CSU stabilized itself and earned its first win of the season.
 
Columbus State shot 57.6 percent (34-of-59) as a team, knocking down 11-of-23 from beyond the arc.
 
The Cougars limited the Knights to just 35.1 percent (27-of-77) shooting and 22.7 percent (5-of-22) from outside.
 
Columbus State will host Carver College on Tuesday night for its second regular season contest. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. inside the Lumpkin Center.