Like Columbus State Athletics on Facebook!
Tweet #GoCSU

By: Josh Fuller

COLUMBUS – Tipping off the 2016-17 season, the Columbus State University men's basketball team will host Middle Georgia State Wednesday night inside the Lumpkin Center. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
Last Time Out
 
The Cougars took the floor for their only exhibition game of the year against the Fort Benning Patriots last Saturday coming away with a 111-62 victory. JaCori Payne scored 20 points with seven assists, five rebounds and four steals for the Cougars. Darius Joell (17), Rudy Winters (14), Arben Camaj (14) and Markis Boyd (12) all scored in double figures as well.
 
Series History
 
The season opener will be just the third time that CSU and Middle Georgia have taken the court against one another. It is the third straight season that Columbus State has opened up the year against the Knights with the Cougars taking both previous meetings by an average of 20 points.
 
Last Meeting
 
The Cougars scored an impressive 53 points in the first half en route to a 91-72 victory over Middle Georgia. Five players scored in double figures, including returnees JaCori Payne (15) and Arben Camaj (12). Camaj had a double-double also pulling down 11 rebounds. 
 
Moore on Matchup
 
"I know the guys are ready to hit the floor and start playing meaningful games," said seventh-year head coach Robert Moore. "I'm excited to see how we play together and see how the new pieces fit with our returners. We have to play unselfish basketball and work as an unit on defense."
 
About Middle Georgia State
 
Middle Georgia is a member of the Southern States Athletic Conference of the NAIA located in Cochran, Ga.
 
The Knights will enter Wednesday's matchup on a three-game winning streak after beginning the season with a loss. Middle Georgia is 3-1 and defeated NCAA Division II member Albany State 86-59 on October 31. The game was an exhibition for ASU, but counted in the Knights' overall record.
 
Middle Georgia currently has three players averaging more than 10 points per game. Center Kieston Standfield is averaging 17.8 points per game while shooting 60 percent from the field. He is almost averaging a double-double as he brings in 9.8 rebounds a night.
 
JeVaughn Sanchez averages 10.25 points per game while Pat Edmonds chips in with an even 10 a night. Edmonds is a perfect 9-for-9 from three this season.
 
As a team, Middle Georgia is allowing just 75.5 points per game and has been outrebounding its opponents 51.3 to 36.0 per game.  
 
CSU Notes
 
Head coach Robert Moore will be aiming for his 100th career win on Wednesday. The seventh-year head coach is 99-69 over his first six years with the Cougars and will be just the third coach in CSU history to surpass the 100-win mark.
 
CSU returns two key players from last season's Peach Belt Conference regular season championship team. Junior JaCori Payne returns after a breakout sophomore campaign in which he averaged 10.4 points and 2.0 assists per night. Payne was inside the top-10 in the PBC in three-point field goal percentage shooting 42.3 percent from beyond the arc. Senior Arben Camaj is also back after averaging almost 20 minutes a night for the Cougars last year. Camaj averaged 7.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game for Moore.
 
Columbus State will be the last team to play its regular season opener in the PBC. All of the other 13 PBC schools have already begun their seasons.
 
CSU has won its past five season openers, dating back to the 2011-12 season. The Cougars are 5-1 under Moore to begin the season.
 
The Cougars are coming off a 21-8 year in 2015-16 and their second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Media Coverage
 
Wednesday's game will be broadcast live on NewsRadio 540 WDAK with CSU Hall of Fame broadcaster Scott Miller and Mike Sanda on the call. The game will also be live on CougarSportsTV.