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FLORENCE, S.C. – The Columbus State University men's basketball team suffered its first conference loss of the season on Tuesday night, falling 90-81 at Francis Marion. The Peach Belt Conference game was played in Florence, S.C.
 
JaCori Payne led the Cougars with 26 points and five assists. Marcus Dixon recorded his second straight double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds. John Lambert added 11, with Rudy Winters chipping in 10.
 
"Give Francis Marion a lot of credit," head coach Robert Moore said. "Every time we made a push, they had an answer."
 
Winters opened the game with a three-point play and the Cougars led for the majority of the first half. Payne had 14 of CSU's first 31 points, helping the Cougars to a six-point edge.
 
Francis Marion (8-0, 3-0 PBC) closed the first half strong however, taking a 43-38 lead into halftime.
 
Columbus State (2-4, 2-1) jumped out quickly in the second half, using a 9-2 run capped by Cam Paulding's bucket that put CSU back in front 47-45.
 
From there, the game went back-and-forth with the lead changing hands seven times over the next seven minutes. Finally, it was the Patriots that took charge behind a 12-2 run.
 
CSU got as close as four down the stretch following 3-pointers from Lambert and Darius Joell, but FMU had the answer on both occasions and held on for the victory.
 
The Cougars finished the game at 48.3 percent shooting as a team. CSU made 9-of-22 from the 3-point line, but was outrebounded 39-35 and committed 18 turnovers.
 
Columbus State will take the court next on Dec. 30 at home against USC Aiken. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.