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AMERICUS, Ga. – The Columbus State University men's basketball team fell 83-72 Wednesday night at Georgia Southwestern. The Peach Belt Conference contest was played in Americus.
Rudy Winters recorded a season-best 21 points to lead all scorers.
JaCori Payne added 18 points, with
Jalen Thomas chipping in 11.
"We were not good enough tonight," head coach
Robert Moore said. "Georgia Southwestern played with more intensity and purpose than we did and the outcome shows it."
Columbus State (3-7, 3-4 PBC) held its only two leads of the night behind 3-pointers from Payne and Thomas in the opening five minutes. However, a long ball from the Hurricanes broke a 10-all tie and the Cougars trailed for the remainder of the game.
Georgia Southwestern (8-3, 4-3) pushed the margin out to 12 points after consecutive baskets with under five minutes until halftime. However, the Cougars used their defense to claw back. Two straight steals led to easy layups and a quick 6-0 spurt cut the deficit in half.
Payne brought the Cougars back to within five with a 3-pointer in transition in the final minute of the first and CSU trailed 40-33 at the break.
GSW got a 3-pointer on its opening possession of the second half and the Hurricanes took command of the game.
The lead grew as wide as 17 late in the contest and the Cougars didn't get inside of 10 in the second half.
CSU shot 43.9 percent (29-for-66) for the game, but was just 4-for-17 from the 3-point line.
The Hurricanes finished the night at 55.6 percent (30-of-54) overall.
Columbus State will play its next three games at home, with a Saturday contest scheduled against UNC Pembroke. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in the Lumpkin Center.
