GREENWOOD, S.C. - With 0.8 seconds left in overtime, Landrius Horton connected on a 3-pointer to send the Columbus State University men's basketball team to the 2020 Peach Belt Conference Tournament Championship as the Cougars outlasted No. 17 and top-seeded UNC Pembroke 90-87 on Saturday. The game took place inside Finis Horne Arena in Greenwood, S.C.

After UNC Pembroke tied the game with two seconds to go in regulation, the two sides continued to exchange buckets in the overtime period. With the Cougars up one with under a minute to go, L. Horton drove inside the paint to put CSU on top 87-84, but the Braves came right back down with a 3-ball from Jordan Ratliffe to tie things up with.

Following a timeout with 10 seconds to go, Bryant Givens dribbled the clock out before dishing a pass to L. Horton for the game-winner.

"This is what it's all about," commented head coach Robert Moore. "Nothing beats this time of the year. The emotion and passion are so noticeable from all the guys out there."

"There is something special about this group. They compete for one another and they want to accomplish something that we haven't done for a while here at Columbus State, which is bringing home a PBC Tournament title."

Columbus State will be making its 13^th appearance in the PBC Tournament title game, and for the fourth time under Moore. CSU last reached the championship in 2017 falling to UNCP. 

Hours after being named to the All-PBC team, L. Horton showed the reason why. He had his best performance of the year with 28 points and 11 rebounds to go along with four assists and two steals. It was his second double-double of the season against the Braves. From the floor, the senior was 11-of-17, including a 4-for-7 mark from beyond the arc.

Hunter Preston (16), Anthony Moore (14), and Robert Davis Jr. (14) were all key in the victory. Despite just eight points, Givens was his usual self by picking up 12 assists and six rebounds. 

Up Next 

Columbus State will take on third-seeded Lander in the 2020 PBC Championship game. Tipoff is at 1 p.m. in Greenwood. 

First Half

The first half set the tone for the rest day as the two teams were never separated by more than seven points at any point. UNC Pembroke held the lead for the early going while a L. Horton 3-pointer tied the game for the first time at 10 with 15:33 on the clock. Back-to-back buckets by Preston and Givens before a three from Davis Jr. ran off seven straight points by the Cougars to put CSU in front for the first time at 19-16 around the midpoint mark of the half. The lead would eventually get to five (27-22) after another L. Horton trifecta at the 8:24 mark. Columbus State would remain in front until the final three-plus minutes. During that time, the game was tied three times before the Braves went ahead 41-37. Givens cut the margin to one with a last-second 3-pointer at the horn.

Second Half

The opening minutes of the second half was all Moore as the redshirt-junior did all he could for the Cougars. The forward scored eight of the first 10 points of the half for CSU helping the underdogs to a five-point lead (50-45) before the under 16-media timeout. UNC Pembroke didn't let things get away though inching back in front for a short period of time. The lead continued to bounce back-and-forth with the two sides exchanging the lead five times from the 14:20 mark until a Davis Jr. layup gave CSU a 60-58 lead with 12 minutes to go. Things remained tight as the game turned late. The Braves held a 64-63 lead before L. Horton stormed into the key to jumpstart a key 6-0 spurt. Following a 3-pointer from Kirk to make it a two-point margin, it was Preston's time to take things over. The junior made a layup before hitting a fade away three to give Columbus State its largest lead of the day at 74-67 with 6:19 to go. The Cougars would go cold from there though. Over the next four minutes, CSU would only score two points, both from Davis Jr. at the free throw line, while UNCP cut lead to 76-75 with 2:35 remaining. L. Horton broke the spell with a layup but the Braves rallied to go up by one with only 84 seconds to go. Needing a big play, Davis Jr. cut into the lane, drawing a foul on a successful layup putting the Cougars ahead. He converted the 3-point play at the line setting up the final moments. After UNCP missed a layup, a Cougar turnover gave the Braves a new life. With 10 seconds to go, the Braves inbounded the ball before Kirk found a darting Levi in the paint to tie the game at 81. A halfcourt shot attempt at the buzzer by L. Horton wasn't unsuccessful.

Overtime

With both teams exhausted, UNC Pembroke scored on the opening possession in overtime before the Cougars took control for good. Layups by Moore and L. Horton gave CSU an 85-83 advantage, but a scoring drought by both teams kept the score at 85-84 heading into the final minute. Following a steal and a timeout, L. Horton drove inside the paint to put CSU on top 87-84, but the Braves came right back down with a 3-ball from Jordan Ratliffe tied things up with 29 seconds on the clock. Moore set things up with his final timeout giving the ball to Givens. The guard dribble the clock out before dishing a pass to L. Horton for the game-winner.

Cougar Notes & Trends

• It was Columbus State's first overtime victory of the season. CSU was 0-2 prior to Saturday's win.
• Columbus State improves to 39-19 all-time in the PBC Tournament. 
• The Cougars shot over 50 percent in each half and the overtime period. 
• CSU had 48 points in the paint. 
• Horton has now gone over 20 points in 11 different games. It was his fifth double-double of the season. 
• Davis Jr. scored a season-high 14 points in 28 minutes. 
• Preston and Moore combined to go 9-for-12 for 19 points in the second half. 
• On Sunday, Columbus State will be going for its seventh PBC Tournament title and the first since 2005. The six championships are the most by any PBC program.