COLUMBUS - After trailing for the majority of the game, the Columbus State University men's basketball team went on a 12-1 run late in the second half to complete an 84-79 victory over UNC Pembroke on Saturday. The Peach Belt Conference contest took place inside the Lumpkin Center in Columbus.

With less than four to play, UNC Pembroke was clinging to a 73-70 lead after Akia Pruitt went one-for-two from the free throw line. On the following trip down the court, a second chance effort from Hunter Preston jumpstarted a 9-0 spurt for the Cougars. Bryant Givens pushed CSU in front with a layup after a UNC Pembroke turnover before Jalen Thomas connected on a 3-pointer to make it a 77-73 Cougar advantage. 

Columbus State was still ahead by four heading into the final minute until Givens put the game away with a three.

"This was a huge win for this team," commented head coach Robert Moore. "We know we are a good team, but we needed a statement victory over an NCAA Tournament caliber opponent on our resume."

"We are playing our best ball at the moment, but we can't have a letdown. Wednesday is a new day and a new challenge, and we have to take this same mentality on the road with us to Dahlonega."

Preston had a career night for Columbus State with 24 points after a 9-for-11 performance for the field. Landrius Horton posted a double-double with 20 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. The senior also had four assists and three steals. Givens chipped in 14 points and tied a season-high with eight assists.

As a team, Columbus State shot an even 50 percent (29-for-58) from the field and was 9-for-22 from beyond the arc. From the line, CSU was 17-for-24. 

Columbus State will look for its first four-game winning streak of the season on Wednesday, Jan. 15 traveling to face North Georgia. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. inside the Convocation Center in Dahlonega, Ga.
 

Play-by-Play

First Half

It was a tight game from the tip as the score was tied three times over the first five minutes of play. Anthony Moore brought down the house with a fastbreak dunk following an assist from Landrius Horton to tie the game at 10. UNC Pembroke answered with seven quick points, but Columbus State didn't trail for long tying the game at 20 after Chris Horton capped off a fastbreak chance with a 3-pointer at the 9:15 mark. CSU would inch in front for a moment when Bryant Givens continued CSU's sharpshooting efforts with a trifecta, but the Braves wouldn't go away. UNCP tied the game three times before finally going back ahead 32-31 with a three of their own. The shot was a part of a 10-0 run that saw UNC Pembroke take a 39-31 advantage. The Cougars didn't panic though before regrouping to go down just 44-38 at the break.

Second Half

Early in the second half, UNC Pembroke (10-4, 4-2 PBC) threatened to break the game open. The Braves scored 10 of the first 14 points of the half to take a game-high 12-point lead, 54-42, less than three minutes in. However, Columbus State had an answer. Eight straight points, including five from L. Horton, cut the margin to 54-50 with 15:35 to play. Needing a spark,  Hunter Preston came through for the Cougars. The junior hit back-to-back threes to tie the game at 61 at the 11:07 mark. UNC Pembroke went back up, but never by more than two possessions for the rest of the game. Preston continued to pour in the points pulling the Cougars back within one, 68-67, with less than eight minutes to play. Columbus State was able to stay within striking distance before catching fire. With less than four to play, UNC Pembroke was up 73-30 before a quick 9-0 CSU spurt. Preston pulled the Cougars within one with a second-chance layup before Givens gave CSU a 74-73 lead. Jalen Thomas capped off the 12-1 run with a 3-pointer to put the game out of reach for the Braves.

 

Inside the Numbers

• Columbus State improves to 8-5 and 3-2 in PBC play after its third straight victory. • It's the first time CSU has won three consecutive PBC games since February 2018. • Landrius Horton now has seven 20-plus point games this season after Saturday's performance. It's the 12th in his Cougar career. • Horton also recorded his third double-double of the season. • Columbus State has posted a field goal percentage of 50 percent or better in each of the last three games.  • CSU's bench outscored UNCP's 36-22.  • On his way to a career-high 24 points, Hunter Preston was 2-for-3 from beyond the arc. Before Saturday, Preston had made just two threes all season long.  • L. Horton and Preston were nearly impossible to stop in the second half. Horton was 3-for-5 from the field with 12 points in the half while Preston scored 16 of his 24 over the final 20 minutes of play. • Columbus State snapped a three-game losing streak to UNC Pembroke. CSU's last win in the series came on Dec. 17, 2017.