COLUMBUS - Trying to even its conference record, the Columbus State University men's basketball team faces off against Georgia College on Wednesday, Jan. 8. The Peach Belt Conference game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. in Milledgeville, Ga.

After two weeks off, Columbus State looked fresh in its dominating 103-76 victory over Francis Marion last Saturday in the Lumpkin Center. The Cougars connected on 16 3-pointers on the way to posting their highest point total of the season.

Jalen Thomas led all scorers with a career-high 20 points while Bryant Givens continued his hot streak with 19. Over the past three games, Givens is averaging 20 points while shooting 68.4 percent (13-for-19) from three. 

"I feel like the guys are starting to understand the little things of our offense," said head coach Robert Moore. "We are being more disciplined in our shot selections and playing unselfishly."

"Milledgeville is one of the best atmospheres in the conference and has never been an easy place for us. We are going to have to stay the course throughout the entire game and communicate on both ends of the court."
 

CSU	Stats	GC
6-5, 1-2	Record	5-7, 2-2
78.6	PPG	74.3
75.5	Opp. PPG	78.3
46.0%	FG%	41.3%
46.6%	Opp. FG%	44.4%
35.4	Rebs/Game	36.9
34.1%	3PT FG%	35.0%
35.7%	Opp. 3PT FG%	30.8%
64.4%	FT%	70.5%
13.9	Assists/Game	14.3
10.1	Steals/Game	5.5
2.0	Blocks/Game	1.9

Game 12

Opponent: Georgia College
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Centennial Center (4,071), Milledgeville, Ga.
Radio: NewsRadio 540 WDAK - Scott Miller, play-by-play. 
Live Video Stream: GCBobcats Sports Network
All-time Series: CSU leads 51-27
Last Meeting: Feb. 20, 2019, in Columbus (GC 76-70)

About Georgia College

Georgia College (5-7, 2-2) was in a high-scoring affair of its own last time out on Saturday dropping a game at home 101-88 to USC Aiken. GC shot an even 50 percent from beyond the arc going 18-for-36. Wesley Simpson had an impressive game with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. 

It will be the second straight game Columbus State has to deal with the current leading scorer in the PBC as Jordan Thomas enters the contest averaging 20.2 points per game. He has made 43 3-pointers this year, the third-most in the league, and has gone for over 30 points on two different occasions. Simpson averages 11.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. He ranks sixth in the PBC in rebounding and seventh in assists per game (4.8). 

The Bobcat offense has been excellent since league play began averaging 87.8 points in four games. GC does struggle to get to the free throw line attempting under 14 free throws per game, the fewest in the PBC. 

GC also arguably has the best victory of any PBC team in league play this season taking down UNC Pembroke 67-64 on the road back in December. 

Cougar Notes

• Columbus State had its best 3-point shooting night in over a decade last Saturday. CSU's 16 made threes were the most in a single game since Nov. 19, 2008, when the Cougars made 21 against Carver Bible.

• CSU also dished out a season-best 20 assists against the Patriots. 

• A season-high 14 different players scored in Saturday's victory. 

• CSU's defense was at its best versus Francis Marion. FMU shot just 39 percent overall and was 4-for-19 from downtown. The 39 shooting percentage was the lowest mark by any Columbus State opponent this season. The Cougars also forced 17 turnovers. 

• At the Division II level, the Cougars rank 10^th in steals per game (10.1) and 20^th in turnovers forced per game (17.7). 

• CSU is in search of its first road victory since Nov. 15 when it defeated Albany State 67-55. The Cougars have dropped their past two road contests.

• Dating back to last season, CSU is on a four-game losing streak away from Columbus against conference opponents. 

Series History

• A series dating back to the 1970s, Columbus State and Georgia College will meet for the 79^th time on Wednesday. The two teams have met annually since the 1989-90 season. 

• Columbus State holds the all-time advantage 51-27 over the Bobcats. However, GC is 18-16 in Milledgeville.

• Georgia College swept both meetings last season with both games being decided by six points or fewer. The two sides have split the past eight meetings dating back to the 2015-16 season. 

Up Next

Columbus State returns home to host UNC Pembroke on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 3:30 p.m. UNCP is 9-3 this season with a game at Flagler on Wednesday.