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By: Josh Fuller

COLUMBUS – In one of the most epic regular season games in Lumpkin Center history, DeMarcus McVay hit a jumper with 0.4 seconds left to lift the Columbus State University men's basketball team to a 69-68 victory over Montevallo Wednesday. The Peach Belt Conference tilt took place inside the Lumpkin Center.
 
With time running out, the Cougars found themselves down by five, 64-59, with 3:16 on the clock. Brent Jackson cut the lead down to three with a jumper before McVay went 1-for-2 at the free throw line to make it a 64-62 game with under two minutes to play.
 
CSU's defense created a turnover and a foul drawn by Cam Baker gave the Cougars a chance to tie the game. Baker hit the first, but the second rolled off the rim to keep Montevallo in the lead by one.
 
From there, both sides would have a possession, but neither came away with points. Bryant Orange kept a possession alive with an offensive rebound and drew a foul to go to the line to increase Montevallo's lead. Orange made both free throws to put the Falcons up 66-63.
 
After a Cougar timeout, Baker went to the lane and made an acrobatic layup pulling the Cougars within 66-65.
 
The ensuing inbound pass was thrown off the baseline by the Falcons, giving the ball back to the Cougars.
 
With the ball, CSU inbounded to McVay, who was immediately fouled with 15 seconds remaining. McVay calmly made both free throws to put the Cougars up 68-67.
 
Montevallo immediately raced up the court looking for the go-ahead bucket. Terrell Lipkins drove into the lane before pulling up for a free thrower jumper that bounced off the glass and in with 5.8 seconds left to give the Falcons the lead.
 
With one last chance, Jackson inbounded the ball to Baker, who dribbled up court. Driving to his left, Baker threw a bullet pass to McVay on the right side of the floor. McVay sank the 18-foot jump shot with 0.4 seconds showing on the clock. Montevallo was able to get a last second desperation shot up, but it was no good giving the Cougars the victory.
 
With the win, Columbus State and Montevallo are now in a first place tie in the PBC West Division as well as for the PBC regular season championship. Each team has two games remaining.
 
It was also CSU's first win against the Falcons in Columbus since the 1981-82 season.
 
The game saw 18 lead changes and 12 tied scores with neither side holding a lead larger than five.
 
After the two sides went to the break tied at 33, the Cougars went ahead 40-38 on a Jackson jumper with 17:40 to play. The lead was short lived though as Lipkins nailed a three to jumpstart a 6-0 run that put the Falcons up 45-40 with 14:41 remaining.
 
Columbus State battled back and finally retook the lead 52-51 on an Arben Camaj put back with 11:58 on the clock. However, that would be CSU's final lead until the final seconds.
 
Jackson paced the Columbus State attack scoring 24 on the heels of five three-pointers. McVay scored 13 while Baker had 12. Baker only played two minutes in the first half due to foul troubles.
 
As a team, CSU shot 48.1 percent (26-for-54) but just 28 percent (7-for-25) from three.
 
Lipkins scored a game-high 29 points on a 10-for-17 shooting performance. Orange scored 11 while Tevin Worthy had 10.
 
Montevallo shot 46.2 percent (24-for-52) and 35.3 percent (6-for-17) from three.
 
Columbus State will be back in action on Saturday hosting North Georgia. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. inside the Lumpkin Center.