PEMBROKE, N.C. - In a game that was tied seven times and the lead changing hands five times, the Columbus State University men's basketball team was on the wrong end of an 82-76 decision on Saturday against UNC Pembroke. The Peach Belt Conference game took place in the Jones Center in Pembroke, N.C.

Landrius Horton tied the game at 63 with 7:26 to go in the game before UNC Pembroke scored the next eight points to build the decisive advantage. The Cougars were never able to recover falling to the second-ranked team in the initial NCAA Southeast Regional rankings.

"The guys left it all on the court tonight, and that's all we ask," said head coach Robert Moore. "We had guys that basically refused to leave the floor and that shows their heart and commitment to this University."

"UNC Pembroke is a talented team. We just need to rebound on Wednesday against a hot Georgia Southwestern team."

Bryant Givens led all scorers with 23 points after going 8-for-15 from the floor, including a 4-for-9 performance from beyond the arc. The senior had five assists and two steals. 

L. Horton also hit four 3-pointers to score 19 while Anthony Moore was 8-of-10 shooting to add 17. No other Cougar scored over nine points.

As a team, Columbus State shot 45.2 percent (28-for-62) overall and 39.3 percent (11-for-28) on 3-point attempts. The Cougars only got to the line 14 times connecting on nine (64.3%).

Up Next

Columbus State will play its final home regular-season game of the season on Wednesday, Feb. 26 against Georgia Southwestern. It will be Senior Night for the Cougars. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. inside the Lumpkin Center in Columbus.  

 

Play-by-Play

First Half

Both teams had the offense going early on with the Cougars jumping out to a 10-5 lead after a Jalen Thomas 3-pointer at the 16:32 mark. CSU would eventually inch out in front going up by seven on multiple occasions, including after Stanley Taylor knocked down a 3-ball to make the score 20-13. UNCP had an answer though. Beginning with a Spencer Levi layup, the Braves went on an 11-3 run to jump ahead 24-23 with 5:50 left in the half. The Cougars would momentarily retake the lead on a Givens trifecta, but another quick 8-0 spurt highlighted by a Jordan Ratliff 3-pointer put the Braves up 32-27 at the 3:20 mark. CSU cut into the deficit in the final minute, but two buckets by UNCP in the final 43 seconds gave the hosts a 38-32 halftime lead.

Second Half

The Cougars wasted no time in the second half as L. Horton nailed a 3-pointer just 19 seconds in. After a pair of free throws from David Strother made the score 42-37, an 11-0 Cougar run capped off with a successful and-one from Moore had the Cougars ahead 48-42 with 15:32 to play. UNCP cut things to 50-49 before the two sides got hot from beyond the arc. The teams scored the next 12 points from beyond the arc with the Cougars getting buckets from Taylor and Givens to maintain a 56-55 lead with 11 to play. The Cougars led by four (60-56) with 9:29 to go before a 3-pointer by John Ratliff began a 15-3 run that put the Cougars in major trouble. Akia Pruitt had six in the spurt for the Braves. CSU was only able to pull within five after a Moore layup made it 78-73. Tyrell Kirk iced the game from the free throw line going a perfect 4-for-4 over the final minute.

 

Inside the Numbers

The Cougars were going for their first season sweep of UNC Pembroke since the 2007-08 season. CSU shot 54.8 percent (17-for-31) in the second half. UNC Pembroke's bench outscored Columbus State's 32-11. Columbus State committed just eight turnovers. The Cougars have committed 10 or fewer in each of the previous four games. It was the eighth 20-plus point performance for Givens. The 23 points were a season-high for the guard. L. Horton continues his torrid pace. Over the past five games, the senior is averaging 22.6 points per game while shooting 57.7 percent (41-for-71) from the floor. He is currently eighth in the PBC in scoring averaging 16.0 points per game this season.  UNCP out-rebounded CSU 40-27. It was the second straight game that Columbus State made 11 3-pointers.