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By:
Josh Fuller
COLUMBUS – The Columbus State University men's basketball team needed overtime and 30 points from
JaCori Payne to knock off Young Harris 90-87 in a key Peach Belt Conference game Saturday. The contest took place inside the Lumpkin Center.
With the win, CSU (16-5, 9-5 PBC) holds onto sole possession of first place in the PBC West division.
"This was a gritty win for the guys," commented head coach
Robert Moore. "Young Harris is a very talented team and they gave us everything we could handle.
"Give it up for JaCori and Arben [Camaj] who had excellent games for us. We wouldn't have been in it if it wasn't for Arben's production in the second half."
The game was sent to overtime after a furious comeback by the Mountain Lions as they were trailing 78-65 with just over three minutes to play. YHC got the long ball working outscoring the Cougars 16-3 over the final three minutes, including scoring 10 points in the final 70 seconds to tie the game. YHC got a 3 at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
In overtime, the two teams went scoreless for nearly the first two minutes until Young Harris went ahead with a pair of free throws at the 3:01 mark. The lead wouldn't last long, however, as Payne came down the court and nailed a 3 to put the Cougars up 84-83.
After a pair of free throws from Payne, YHC got a basket to cut it to a one-point game again. However, a Camaj jumper and a tough layup by Payne upped the Cougars' lead to 90-85 in the final minute. Young Harris made it a one possession game and had a final shot to tie the game again, but the 3 was off allowing CSU to grab the win.
The early portion of the first half was dominated by the Mountain Lions as YHC jumped out to a 15-8 lead just five minutes into the game. CSU cut its deficit to one two times until YHC responded with an 8-0 run to take a 25-16 lead at the 10:52 mark.
From there, the Cougars heated up as CSU started a 20-4 run to build a comfortable lead. CSU started to feel it from downtown as the Cougars hit four 3's in the spurt to go ahead 36-29.
Vic Ellis was key as the sharpshooter scored 11 points, including eight straight, while knocking down three 3s.
YHC made it a 36-33 game, but again the Cougars answered with back-to-back 3s from Ellis and Payne to go in front 42-33. The Mountain Lions had the final bucket of the half making CSU's lead 42-35 at the break.
Columbus State didn't have many problems in the second half as its lead was never less than three until the closing minutes. CSU's offense went cold late though allowing for the comeback. The Cougars' last field goal in the second half was at the five-minute mark.
Payne led all scorers with 30 points as the junior was 7-for-13 from the floor, including going 5-for-9 from 3. He was also 11-for-12 at the free throw line, while picking up seven rebounds and six assists. Camaj had 19 points with 17 coming in the second half and overtime. Ellis had a season-high 14.
As a team, the Cougars shot 45.7 percent (32-for-70), while going 39.3 percent (11-for-28) from 3. CSU had one of its better days at the free throw line going 15-for-18.
YHC shot 53.2 percent (33-for-62) and 45.5 percent (10-for-22) from 3. The Mountain Lions left a few points at the line shooting 52.4 percent (11-for-21).
Columbus State will hit the road on Monday taking on Georgia College. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
