COLUMBUS - Just days after hitting a buzzer-beater to defeat Augusta, the Columbus State University men's basketball team will hit the floor for a Peach Belt Conference game against Clayton State on Wednesday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Morrow, Ga.

The Cougars (10-6, 5-3 PBC) found themselves down five to Augusta, 60-55, with 12 seconds to play on Monday before a furious rally. After Hunter Preston made it a one possession game, Augusta missed the front-end of a one-and-one opportunity to keep CSU alive. On the following trip down the floor, Preston did it again, this time from the corner, to give the Cougars the memorable win.

"Monday's win is one that you'll remember for a long time," commented head coach Robert Moore. "But, that is also a curse. You have to balance the wins and losses in sports, and my goal for Wednesday is to make the guys understand that and believe in it. "

"No game is easy in this league, and we have to treat every one of them like an NCAA Tournament matchup. If we play with the same energy level as we did against Augusta, I would match our guys up with anyone."
 

CSU	Stats	Clayton
10-6, 5-3	Record	3-12, 1-7
78.9	PPG	82.7
75.1	Opp. PPG	96.3
45.9%	FG%	44.1%
46.1%	Opp. FG%	49.3%
34.9	Rebs/Game	36.3
35.9%	3PT FG%	32.1%
34.4%	Opp. 3PT FG%	37.9%
65.0%	FT%	73.5%
14.4	Assists/Game	13.2
9.6	Steals/Game	6.1
1.8	Blocks/Game	3.7

Game 17

Opponent: Clayton State University
Date: Saturday, Jan. 22, 2020
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: The Loch (1,100), Morrow, Ga.
Live Audio Stream: Cougar Sports TV - Scott Miller, play-by-play. 
Live Video Stream: Claytonstatesports.com
All-time Series: CSU leads 30-19
Last Meeting: March 2, 2019, in Morrow, Ga. (Clayton 85-78)

About Clayton State

Clayton State (3-12, 1-7 PBC) was also in action on Martin Luther King Jr. Day falling 92-77 to Lander in Greenwood, S.C. Before the Lander loss, the Lakers defeated Francis Marion 82-79 on Saturday, Jan. 18 to snap an eight-game losing streak.

Five players average 10 or more points for Clayton State with Kyle Kincey (16.3 PPG) leading the way. Kincey adds 3.2 assists per game. Bryan Hart averages 11.5 points per game with 29 made 3-pointers this season. Ricardo Saams Jr. (11.2 PPG, 6.5 reb/game) leads the team in rebounding.

Clayton State averages over 82 points per game, but defense is a struggle. The Lakers near the bottom of the league in points per game allowed (96.3), opponents' field goal percentage (49.3), and opponents' 3-point field goal percentage (37.9).

Cougar Notes

• The Cougars are going for their sixth win in seven tries on Wednesday. It would be the best seven-game stretch for CSU since beginning the 2016-17 season 6-1.

• Over the last two games, CSU's bench has outscored its opponents 80-23. 

• A win would give Columbus State three straight wins against PBC foes for the second time this season after failing to do so in 2018-19.

• In eight PBC games this season, Bryant Givens is averaging 16.3 points and 5.6 assists per game. He is shooting 43.1 percent (22-for-51) from three while dishing out five or more assists in six of the eight games.

• After starting the season 0-for-2 on 3-point attempts, Hunter Preston is eight for his last 12 from beyond the arc.

• Saturday was the first time since Jan. 30, 2017 that Columbus State picked up a win after scoring 61 or fewer points. CSU defeated Georgia Southwestern 60-54 that night.

•  At the Division II level, the Cougars rank 14^th in steals per game (9.6) and 22^nd in turnover margin (3.7). Individually, Givens is 19^th in steals per game (2.3).

Series History

 • The Columbus State-Clayton State series dates back to 1994-95 when the Lakers made the leap to the NCAA Division II level. It will be the 40^th all-time meeting between the schools Wednesday.

• The Cougars lead the series 30-19, including holding a 13-11 record in Morrow.

• Recently, Clayton State has presented troubles to the Cougars. The Lakers have won seven straight with the last Columbus State win in the series coming on Feb. 24, 2016. 

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