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By:
Josh FullerBirmingham, Ala. – The Columbus State University men's basketball team used a 19-6 run to close the first half and never looked back defeating Miles 106-98 in the Miles Classic
Friday. The game took place at Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Ala.
With the victory, the Cougars improve to 6-0, matching the program's best start since the 1999-00 season.
"The guys played really well tonight and knocked off a really talented Miles squad," said head coach
Robert Moore. "I really love how our post guys are playing right now. It's great to get the production from Brentine [Taylor] and Demarcus [McVay] that we got tonight."
Cam Baker scored the game's opening bucket and was a big reason why the Cougars raced out to an early 11-4 lead just five and half minutes into the game, netting six of the 11.
However, Miles (4-3) came right back at it, going on a 10-2 run to take its first lead of the game at 14-13 with 11:43 remaining in the opening half. Maiscei Grier was hot from downtown sinking two three-pointers during the run and also added a jumper on a fastbreak opportunity.
Following a media timeout, the Cougars retook the lead on a
Matthias Sigurdarson layup and held on to the advantage for the next four minutes until Carl Garcia gave the Golden Bears a 27-26 lead on a three-pointer.
The two sides would exchange the lead three times over the next minute before a
JaCori Payne three-pointer sparked the 19-6 CSU run to end the half. The Cougars spread out the scoring well during the run with Demarcus McVay (six),
Brentine Taylor (five), Payne (four) and
Darren Daniel (four) contributing with points as CSU took a 47-35 lead into the break.
The second half was a track meet with the two teams combining to score 122 points. The Cougars continued their hot shooting from the first half to take a game-high 15 point lead (52-37) following a Payne three-pointer with
17:44 showing on the clock.
Miles again fought back, this time going on an 11-1 run to pull within five (53-47) of the Cougars with plenty of time remaining. The long ball was the key again for the Golden Bears as Willie Gray connected on two threes with Reginald Smalls adding one as well.
Columbus State finally halted Miles and immediately went back to work. Back-to-back threes by McVay and Baker immediately made it an 11-point lead (59-48) before CSU went on a 7-0 run to go back in front by 15 (66-51) with a little over 12 to play. McVay was feeling it for the Cougars scoring three of the seven points.
With under 10 minutes to go, Miles made one last run at the lead, scoring seven unanswered points to bring it within five (71-66) once again. The Golden Bears went inside on the Cougars recording six of the seven points in the paint during the stretch.
CSU was able to get a little breathing room before the lead was at five following a Joshua Johnson three. However, six straight points from the Cougars gave CSU the momentum as the Cougars never allowed the Golden Bears within five of the lead for the remainder of the game.
Columbus State had six players in double figures in scoring with McVay leading the way with a season-high 20 points. The junior went 7-for-10 from the floor while also grabbing a game-high eight rebounds. Baker had 19 with Payne right behind him with 17 thanks in part to a 4-for-7 night from beyond the arc.
Taylor (16), Daniel (16) and
Brent Jackson (11) were the other Cougars in double-digits.
As a team, CSU shot 52.3 percent (34-for-65) from the floor including a 9-for-22 mark (40.9 percent) from three-point range.
Miles was led by Grier's 21 after the sharpshooter went 3-for-6 from downtown. Gray and Johnson had 17 and 15 points, respectively.
The Golden Bears shot over 50 percent from the field (56.3 percent) and three-point range (52.4 percent).
Columbus State will look to begin the season 7-0 for the first time in over 20 years taking on Lane Saturday afternoon. Tip-off will be at 4 p.m. and the game can be heard live on NewsRadio 540 WDAK with CSU Hall of Famer Scott Miller with the call.
