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FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The Columbus State University men's basketball team got back in the win column on Monday night with a 71-64 win at Fort Valley State.

Columbus State (2-1) got a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds from Landrius Horton to lead the way. Chris Horton added 12 points, while Bryant Givens finished with 10.
 
"I was extremely pleased with our effort on the defensive end tonight," head coach Robert Moore said. "We didn't shoot the ball well, but our defense came up big when we needed it."
 
Fort Valley State (0-3) scored the first five points of the night and led for the opening seven minutes before the Cougars tied the game at 12 and took their first lead at 15-14.
 
The lead changed hands three more times before the break, but FVSU took a 33-28 edge into halftime.
 
The Wildcats stretched out to their largest lead of the night at 37-30 in the opening minutes of the second half, but CSU responded immediately. The Cougars went on a 10-3 run to tie the game at 40-all and Givens pushed them back into the lead with his only 3-pointer of the game.
 
Columbus State stayed in front for the next 10 minutes before the Wildcats scored seven unanswered points to move back in front at 60-58 with less than five minutes remaining.
 
Down 62-61 with three minutes to play, Stanley Taylor went to the line and knocked down a pair of free throws to seesaw CSU back in front.
 
The Cougar defense took over from there, stopping Fort Valley State on six consecutive possessions. Meanwhile, CSU put together a 10-0 run that helped secure the win.
 
The Cougars went 26-of-68 (38.2 percent) from the field on Monday and was just 5-for-28 (17.9 percent) from the 3-point line. CSU committed just six turnovers on the night, while forcing 19.
 
Columbus State and Fort Valley State will meet again next Monday night in the home opener for the Cougars. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the Lumpkin Center.