COLUMBUS - The Columbus State University men's basketball team will be busy this weekend playing a pair of games in two different cities.
The Cougars will first take on Albany State on Friday before opening their home schedule on Saturday with a game against Xavier - Louisiana.
"I'm ready to get back on the court after our performance in North Carolina," stated head coach
Robert Moore. "This team has all the tools to be a force in the region, but we have to continue to focus on the defensive end. Little mistakes cost us the game against Mount Olive last weekend and we harped on assignments all week long."
Columbus State began the year with an 86-73 victory against Barton on its home floor before falling 107-102 in overtime against Mount Olive. Scoring wasn't an issue for the Cougars with
Landrius Horton (22.0 PPG) and
Bryant Givens (20.5 PPG) averaging over 20 points per game. Horton is also pulling in 10 rebounds a game.
| CSU |
Stats |
ASU |
| 1-1 |
Record |
1-1 |
| 94.0 |
PPG |
80.0 |
| 90.0 |
Opp. PPG |
76.0 |
| 52.9% |
FG% |
51.2% |
| 51.2% |
Opp. FG% |
50.0% |
| 36.0 |
Rebs/Game |
30.0 |
| 41.0% |
3PT FG% |
34.9% |
| 45.0% |
Opp. 3PT FG% |
26.3% |
| 55.6% |
FT% |
67.9% |
| 17.0 |
Assists/Game |
13.0 |
| 14.0 |
Steals/Game |
7.0 |
| 1.5 |
Blocks/Game |
1.5 |
Game 3
Opponent: Albany State University
Date: Friday, Nov. 15, 2019
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: ASU West Campus Arena, Albany, Ga.
Radio: NewsRadio 540 WDAK Scott Miller, play-by-play.
Live Video Stream: Albany State Digital Network
Last Meeting: Nov. 29, 2018 in Columbus (CSU 79-76 OT)
Like the Cougars, Albany State also split a pair of games over the opening weekend. The Golden Rams dominated West Florida (73-59) before dropping a tight one against Valdosta State 93-87. Five players are averaging over 10 points per game led by Randy McClue (16.5 PPG).
ASU was selected to finish second in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference preseason poll after returning five key players from last season. The Golden Rams will host Valdosta State on Thursday before taking on the Cougars.
| CSU |
Stats |
XU-LA |
| 1-1 |
Record |
4-3 |
| 94.0 |
PPG |
78.0 |
| 90.0 |
Opp. PPG |
67.0 |
| 52.9% |
FG% |
47.5% |
| 51.2% |
Opp. FG% |
39.9% |
| 36.0 |
Rebs/Game |
35.0 |
| 41.0% |
3PT FG% |
36.0% |
| 45.0% |
Opp. 3PT FG% |
34.0% |
| 55.6% |
FT% |
64.8% |
| 17.0 |
Assists/Game |
15.7 |
| 14.0 |
Steals/Game |
8.5 |
| 1.5 |
Blocks/Game |
2.2 |
Game 4
Opponent: Xavier University of Louisiana
Date: Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Site: Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center (4,500), Columbus, Ga.
Radio: NewsRadio 540 WDAK Scott Miller, play-by-play, Mike Sanda, analyst.
Series History: First-ever meeting
Last Meeting: -
An NAIA program out of New Orleans, Xavier - Louisiana will head into the Lumpkin Center with eight games already under its belt. Currently, the Gold Rush are 4-3 with a game against William Carey on Thursday.
Wil Loyd (17.7 PPG, 7.2 rebs/game) is off to a great start for Xavier. Ray Mart is a scoring threat as well averaging 15.5 points per game.
Cougar Notes
•
Bryant Givens is currently leading the nation at the Division II level in steals per game. The senior guard is averaging five per game. He is also 12th in assists per game (7.0).
•
Landrius Horton was named the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week on Tuesday. He was the first Cougar to earn the honor since Jan. 25, 2016. Horton averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds at the '45 Second Classic'.
• Horton is eighth in the nation in offensive rebounds per game (5.0).
• Columbus State is 8-1 under
Robert Moore in home openers, including winning the previous seven.
