COLUMBUS - Nothing could slow down the Columbus State University men's basketball team on Saturday as the Cougars blew out Francis Marion 103-76. The Peach Belt Conference game took place inside the Lumpkin Center in Columbus.

The Cougars (6-5, 1-2 PBC) showed no signs of rust after a two-week break connecting on 11 first half 3-pointers to open up a 52-29 halftime advantage. Overall, CSU made a season-high 16 threes in the game.

"By far our best shooting game of the season," stated head coach Robert Moore. "And man, did we need it. This was a huge game for us and I'm super proud of how the guys came out and responded."

"We were sharing the ball and making that extra pass to find the open shooter and that was the difference today. Wednesday is going to be another challenge and we need to show we can do this away from home."

Fourteen different players scored for Columbus State in the game led by a career-high 20 from Jalen Thomas. Thomas went 7-for-11 from the floor, including a 4-for-8 performance from beyond the arc. Bryant Givens added 19 and six assists. He nearly went perfect on his shot attempts going 7-for-8 and 4-for-5 from three. 

Karl Ivey (12) and Landrius Horton (10) also were in double figures. Horton added four assists. 

As a team, CSU shot 55.7 percent (39-for-70) and an even 50 percent (16-for-32) from three. 

Columbus State will look to even its conference record on Wednesday, Jan. 8 against Georgia College. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Milledgeville, Ga. 
 

Play-by-Play

First Half

The two sides traded buckets as Francis Marion took a 6-5 lead after an early Douglas Dwight 3-pointer. Following that, Columbus State went on its first prolonged run of the game, outscoring the Patriots 22-8 over the next nine-plus minutes. During that stretch, the Cougars went on a 15-2 run, including scoring eight straight, to go in front 20-8. Columbus State's hot shooting would continue as Chris Horton nailed two three's midway through the half to up the advantage to 26-13. After Francis Marion cut the margin to single-digits, 27-18, at the 8:01 mark, Columbus State closed out the half hot, with its final six made field goals all coming from beyond the arc. Karl Ivey and Thomas each made two with Givens also getting in the action as the Cougars went into the break with a 52-29 advantage.

Second Half

The victory was never in doubt over the final 20 minutes of play. A Hunter Preston dunk with 14:51 showing on the clock gave Columbus State its first 30-point lead of the day as the Cougars went in front 69-38. Francis Marion showed signs of life going on a 14-4 run to pull within 21, 73-52, around the midway point, but 3-pointers from Ivey and Thomas ended the run and stretch the lead back to nearly 30 at 83-54. Late in the half, the lead would cross the 30-point mark once again following a three from Jordan Jedneski and a jumper from Devan Porter-Wilson that extended the margin to 96-65. A three from Robert Davis Jr. pushed Columbus State over the century mark to cap off the convincing victory.

 

Inside the Numbers

• The 103 points are a season-high for the Cougars. It's the second time this season that Columbus State has gone over 100 points (Mount Olive, 102). • The last time Columbus State scored over 100 points in a PBC game was on Feb. 13, 2019 against Georgia Southwestern. However, it took the Cougars two overtime periods to post 106 points that night.  •  In addition to setting a season-high in made threes, the Cougars dished out a season-best 20 assists.   • It's the third time in 2019-20 that Columbus State has shot 50 percent or better from three. • It was also the first time this season that Columbus State has recorded five blocks. • Givens, Ivey, and Thomas all made four 3-pointers.  • Ivey set a new career-high with his 12 points. • Over the last three games, Givens is averaging 20 points and is shooting 68.4 percent (13-for-19) from three.  • Eight different players recorded an assist for Columbus State.