COLUMBUS - A high-flying Columbus State University men's basketball team scored a season-high 108 points in a 108-90 victory over Clayton State on Wednesday. The Peach Belt Conference game took place inside the Lumpkin Center.

The Cougars (15-10, 10-7 PBC) were hot from the onset scoring the game's first nine points, all from beyond the arc. After the Lakers climbed back into things, CSU exploded for 61 points in the second half to go on for the 18-point victory.

"The guys brought all the intensity today, and it showed," commented head coach Robert Moore. "The guys fed off each other and the second half was one of the most exciting halves of Cougar basketball in a while."

"We need our leaders to step up. There isn't any time left to be playing around. Bryant [Givens] and Zae [Horton] were huge for us tonight. We need this production every single night from here on out."

Landrius Horton and Bryant Givens scored 26 and 22 points, respectively. Horton was on fire from beyond the arc, hitting 5-of-6, while going 10-for-17 overall. Givens nearly had a triple-double with eight rebounds and assists.

Cam Paulding (12), Hunter Preston (12), Anthony Moore (11), and Stanley Taylor (10) were all in double-figures. 

As a team, the Cougars shot 53.7 percent (44-for-82) overall and were 11-for-27 from 3-point range. In the second half, CSU posted a blistering 66.7 percent (26-for-39) clip from the floor. 

Columbus State will take on PBC leader UNC Pembroke on Saturday, Feb. 22 in Pembroke, N.C. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. inside the English E. Jones Center.  

Play-by-Play

First Half

Three straight 3-pointers kicked off the game for Columbus State as the Cougars were off and running from the tip. The Lakers were able to get back in the game quickly cutting the margin to six (13-7) before the Cougars took their first double-digit lead of the night. A L. Horton jumper and a four-point play by Givens pushed CSU's lead to 19-7 by the first media timeout. Following the timeout, Clayton State played its best stretch of the night going on a 16-2 run to jump in front by four, 27-23, with 10:49 to go in the half. Back-to-back trifectas by L. Horton tied the game at 29 before a dunk by Hunter Preston put the Cougars back on top. Clayton State was able to sneak ahead one last time, but another L. Horton bucket gave the Cougars a lead they wouldn't relinquish. A late 12-4 spurt by Columbus State helped the Cougars take a 47-40 halftime lead.

Second Half

Early in the second half, Clayton State was hanging around after Kyle Kincey hit a 3-pointer to make the score 51-45 at the 17:32 mark. However, Givens would have different plans. Five quick points by the senior guard pushed the margin back to double-digits while Jalen Thomas got in on the action with a 3-pointer of his own, off a Givens' pass, to give the Cougars a 59-45 lead. After Clayton stopped the drought,  eight more points by CSU, including monstrous jams by Givens, ballooned the lead to 67-47. The Cougars would roll from there. The lead would get as high as 28 (94-66) with 2:49 remaining after Columbus State put on a highlight reel of dunks. Late 3-pointers by Clayton State cut into Columbus State's final margin.

 

Inside the Numbers

It's the third time that Columbus State scored 100 or more points in a game this season. The Cougars also passed the century mark against Mount Olive (102) and Francis Marion (103).  Over the past four games, L. Horton is averaging 23.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. He is also shooting 57.6 percent (34-for-59) from the floor. He has made 10 or more field goals in each of the past two games. With the win, Columbus State head coach Robert Moore is now second all-time for most wins by a Cougar head coach since CSU became a four-year institution. Moore has 156 wins in his tenure. Columbus State grabbed a season-high 49 rebounds. The Cougars out-rebounded the Lakers by 20. It was the fourth time CSU had 20 or more assists in a game. Before Wednesday, the Cougars had made 12 3-pointers over the past three games. Against Clayton State, CSU made 11 from downtown.