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By: Josh Fuller

COLUMBUS – After a record breaking first half performance, the Columbus State University men's basketball team defeated Francis Marion 101-89 Sunday in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament quarterfinals. The game was played inside the Lumpkin Center in Columbus.

With the win, the Cougars advance to the PBC Tournament semifinals next Saturday and will play Augusta. The Jaguars defeated Young Harris 84-76 in their quarterfinal matchup. Columbus State will host the semifinals and finals of the tournament thanks to the Lady Cougars victory over Flagler earlier in the day. Tip time next Saturday is set for 3:30 p.m.  

"I was thrilled with how we played today," said head coach Robert Moore. "Obviously, we played very well on the offensive side of the floor, but our defense made plays to help us maintain our lead."

Columbus State (21-6) led wire-to-wire in the victory thanks to getting off to a record breaking start. The Cougars scored 64 first half points, besting the old PBC Tournament mark for points in a half of 59 set by CSU in 1992. Over the first 20 minutes, Columbus State shot 65 percent (26-for-40) and was 10-for-17 from three.

CSU raced out of the gates getting the opening bucket from Arben Camaj and Demetres Abrams followed with a three to go up 5-0. The lead was up to nine (15-6) not even five minutes into the game and the Cougars took their first double-digit lead (20-9) at the 14:10 mark on a DeMarcus McVay layup.

The lead would hover around the 10-point mark over the next few minutes. FMU cut the margin down to 36-28 on a Mike Davis Jr. layup before the Cougars pulled together a run. JaCori Payne jumpstarted a 12-2 Cougar spurt that was fueled with the long ball. Consecutive threes from Payne, Brent Jackson and two from Cam Baker ballooned the lead to a game-high 18 points (48-30) with just over six minutes until halftime.

Francis Marion (17-12) was able to cut its deficit to nine a couple times over the final minutes of the half, but the Cougars scored eight of the final 12 points of the half to take a 64-51 advantage.

The second half was controlled by Columbus State as the lead dipped under 10 points just twice in the period.

With 12:28 to go, Baker hit a fast break layup to put the Cougars ahead by 18 (77-59) for the second time in the game before the Patriots tried one last attempt to get back in the game. FMU went on a 7-0 run to crawl within 11 (77-66) thanks to five points from Alante Fenner.

The lead eventually dipped to nine, but a Jackson layup pushed the margin back out to 86-75 with 6:36 to go. FMU got within seven (92-85) with less than three to go. From there, CSU quickly went back up by 10 on a Jackson three and cruised to victory.

McVay had his best game of the year posting a monster double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Both are season highs for the junior as he was 10-for-14 from the floor. He also added two blocks. Four other Cougars scored at least 12 points including 19 from Baker and 15 from Jackson. Camaj had 12 points and nine rebounds.

As a team, CSU shot 55.9 percent (38-for-68) and an even 50 percent (12-for-24) from three.

Fenner scored 25 to pace Francis Marion while Davis Jr. had 23 behind five three-pointers. FMU shot 42.7 percent (32-for-75) and 39.4 percent (13-for-33) from beyond the arc.

It was the fifth time this season that Columbus State scored over 100 points.