MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - For the second consecutive game, the Columbus State University men's basketball team used its long-range shooting to pummel its opponent as the Cougars defeated Georgia College 92-79 Wednesday night. The Peach Belt Conference game took place inside the Centennial Center in Milledgeville, Ga.

The Cougars nailed 13 of their 34 3-pointers going 38.2 percent from beyond the arc to even their PBC record to 2-2. Overall, the Cougars moved to 7-5 on the season. 

Both Landrius Horton and Stanley Taylor tied their career-highs in points. Horton exploded for 29 going 12-for-17 from the floor while grabbing nine rebounds. Taylor, who hit a career-best four threes, scored 18 for the Cougars. Jalen Thomas was 5-for-10 from three to add 18 as well. 

"This team is fun to watch when we share the ball," said head coach Robert Moore. "Ever since we left Tuskegee, we have been shooting the ball well from deep, but it's the unselfish play from the guys that is getting it done."

"All of these guys can shoot. We just have to stay grounded and continue to fight for the loose balls and do things that winning teams do. We are playing well, but there is plenty of room for improvement. Saturday we will have another test against UNC Pembroke, who is the top of the class in the conference."

Overall, Columbus State shot 50.7 percent (34-for-67) from the field. At the free throw line, the Cougars were 11-for-18. 

Columbus State and UNC Pembroke will meet on Saturday, Jan. 11 inside the Lumpkin Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Play-by-Play

First Half

Columbus State let it fly from the start as Thomas and Bryant Givens hit back-to-back threes early on to put the Cougars on the board. Another three by Thomas and a layup from Anthony Moore put CSU in front 11-2 just five minutes into the game. Following a GC 3-pointer, another bucket from Moore and a thunderous fastbreak jam from Landrius Horton gave Columbus State its first 10-point lead at 15-5 a few seconds later. Midway through the half, it turned into the Stanley Taylor show. The senior torched the Bobcats by scoring nine straight points for the Cougars will all nine coming from beyond the arc to extend the lead to 32-16 with 8:22 left to play until halftime. Georgia College battled back to pull within 11, 35-24, but a three from Thomas slammed the door shut on the early comeback attempt and started a 12-3 run that saw CSU go ahead 47-27 with 3:19 showing on the clock. Thomas added another three in the spurt while L. Horton added four. CSU eventually took a 49-31 into the break.

Second Half

The Cougars were in complete control of the game over the final 20 minutes of play. Thomas' hot shooting carried over into the second half as he made another trifecta in the opening minutes. Georgia College cut the margin down to 55-39, but L. Horton single-handedly kept CSU comfortably in front. The senior scored the next 11 Cougar points to push the lead back into the twenties. Following back-to-back 3-pointers from Karl Ivey and Taylor, the Cougars took a game-high 26-point lead, 74-48, at the 9:53 mark. The lead was still at 26 when the Bobcats got hot late. GC went on a 20-6 run to cut the lead to 12 at 85-73 with under four to play. However, Givens ended all hopes of a comeback with a three on the next CSU possession. The Bobcats connected on two threes in the final minute to make it a more respectable 13-point margin.

 

Inside the Numbers

• Over the past two games, the Cougars are shooting 43.9 percent from 3-point range (29-for-66). • Columbus State tied a season-low with seven turnovers. CSU also committed just seven against West Georgia on Dec. 2.  • Landrius Horton snapped out of a dry spell in a big way on Wednesday. Prior to tonight, the senior was averaging just over seven points per game in his last three outings. His 29 points are also the most by any Cougar this season. • In Peach Belt Conference play, Jalen Thomas is averaging 14.5 points per game. The senior is nine for his last 18 3-point attempts.  • Three different Cougars had four or more assists in the game (Bryant Givens 5, Chris Horton 5, Thomas 5.).  • CSU set a new season-high with 34 3-point attempts. • It was the first time in four games that Columbus State outrebounded its opponent (40-38).  • Columbus State improves to 52-27 all-time against Georgia College.