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COLUMBUS – The Columbus State University men's basketball team fell short 90-85 against Francis Marion Wednesday afternoon.
Junior Landrius Horton scored a team-high 22 points while grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. Junior Bryant Givens also recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 assists. Three other Cougars finished in double figures on the afternoon.
"Give all the credit to Francis Marion today," head coach Robert Moore said. "They came out with a great rhythm and made us dig out of a large hole. I was pleased with our guys effort in the second half for fighting back and having a chance to win the game."
Francis Marion controlled the game from the tip, racing out to an early 19-9 lead with less than 8 minutes off the clock. With the Cougars up 4-2, their only lead of the game, the Patriots tore off 17-5 run to take the double digit lead.
FMU's lead extended to 17 at the 5:31 mark, before the Cougars ran off 9 straight points to make it 40-32 with just over 2 minutes to play. The Patriots were able to increase their lead back to 46-35 going into the halftime break.
Columbus State made a couple of runs at the lead in the second half. They were able to cut it to six after five quick points from Givens and Horton before the 14 minute mark. However the Patriots answered with back-to-back 3-pointers to put them ahead by double figures again.
The Cougars made it a 67-62 game with under nine minutes to play after an 8-2 run, but once again the Patriots seized momentum pulling back in front 79-64.
Francis Marion helped the Cougars out at the foul line down the stretch going 4-for-8 over a three minute stretch giving the Cougars hope. In the final minute, the Cougars made it a one-possession game twice, including pulling within two after a Chris Horton three with 20 seconds remaining.
However, the Patriots were able to do just enough at the line in the remaining attempts to ice the game.
The Cougars shot 50.8 percent (32-for-63) from the field and went 11-of-24 from the 3-point line.
Columbus State heads to Aiken, S.C. January 5 for their first match up of the calendar year against USC Aiken. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
