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By:
Will DeBoerCOLUMBUS –
Cam Baker hit the go-ahead layup with 1.3 seconds to go in overtime as the Columbus State University men's basketball team overcame a 12-point second-half deficit to oust Young Harris 86-84 on Saturday. The Peach Belt Conference showdown took place at the Lumpkin Center.
The win puts the Cougars (17-6, 11-5 PBC) in a tie for second place in the PBC West Division with the Mountain Lions (13-12, 11-5 PBC). CSU holds the tiebreaker after sweeping the season series with YHC.
"I thought we used the fastbreak really well tonight and that was our key to game," said CSU head coach
Robert Moore, who celebrated his birthday in style with the late-season win. "You never want to lose on your birthday, and I'm glad the guys found a way to win the game."
Leading 84-82 with the ball and 34 seconds to go in the extra period, CSU fell victim to a Young Harris double team, allowing a turnover and the tying basket with 12 seconds left. Baker took the inbound and went coast to coast, making his move to the left side of the basket for the layup.
The game-winner was the Columbus native's second show of heroics for the hometown crowd in 10 days. Baker hit the dagger on Feb. 3 against Clayton State, also hitting the dagger with 1.3 ticks to go.
The Mountain Lions opened the contest with a 12-4 run over the first five and a half minutes. The teams traded points and Young Harris went up by eight again after a Ben Waterhouse jumper made it 16-8 with 10:02 in the first half.
The visitors kept the lead from eight to 12 points over the next seven minutes before CSU closed the half with a mini rally. A
Brentine Taylor layup got it within four with 38 seconds to go, but JB Charles pushed the YHC lead back to seven with a three, making it 34-27 at the break.
After a quick burst from the Cougars to open the second half, the Mountain Lions again pulled away, making it 47-35 with 15:44 to go. The 12-point cushion was the high watermark for Young Harris, as Columbus State would chip and chip away.
The teams would trade runs over the next nine minutes before the Cougars made their crucial move.
Arben Camaj poured in a layup to make it 67-61 with 6:43 to go, and Baker went on a five-point tear over the next minute to get CSU within one. After YHC responded with two buckets, Camaj and Taylor flicked in short range jumpers to get back to 71-70 at 4:00.
The Cougars took their first lead at 3:10 when
JaCori Payne tipped in a three-point miss, making it 72-71. The Mountain Lions made CSU play the free throw game for the rest of regulation, and Marcellus Roberts tied it at 76 with a layup in the final seven seconds to send it to OT.
Brent Jackson put Columbus State up 80-79 with a jumper at 3:36 and the Cougars held the lead until CJ Wilson's bucket on the turnover with 12 seconds left, setting up Baker's heroics.
Jackson headlined the CSU box score with 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting, adding seven rebounds. Baker finished right behind with 22 points, six rebounds and a pair of assists.
All three Cougar big men finished scoring in double figures with Camaj leading the way at 14 points and seven boards.
DeMarcus McVay turned in a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Taylor chipped in 10 points.
Wilson led the way for Young Harris with 24 points and five Mountain Lions finished between 10 and 13 points.
Columbus State will now face Montevallo on Wednesday, Feb. 17 with first place in the PBC West on the line. The Falcons followed up a 80-75 win over CSU on Wednesday by beating Clayton State 71-69 on Saturday.
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