Skip To Main Content

Columbus State University Athletics

Scoreboard

The Official Athletics Site of the Columbus State Cougars

HunterUNCP1
73
Columbus St. CSU 18-12, 11-9
76
Winner Lander LU 22-8, 14-6
Columbus St. CSU
18-12, 11-9
73
Final
76
Lander LU
22-8, 14-6
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Columbus St. CSU 40 33 73
Lander LU 27 49 76

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Josh Fuller

Lander Rallies to Take PBC Title From Cougars

The Cougars held an early 16-point second half lead.

GREENWOOD, S.C. - Lander stormed back from a 16-point first-half deficit to stun the Columbus State University men's basketball team 76-73 in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament Championship game on Sunday. The championship was held inside Finis Horne Arena on LU's campus in Greenwood, S.C.

With Lander leading 10-8, Columbus State went on a 21-3 run to open a commanding 29-13 advantage with 8:41 to go in the opening half. 

After going into the break up 13, Stanley Taylor nailed a three 14 seconds into the half to put CSU ahead 43-27. However, from there Lander began its march back. Around the midway point of the second, CSU still led by double-figures, but a 10-0 Bearcat run quickly tighten things up. 

Deon Berrien put the Bearcats in front 64-63 with 5:12 to go before the lead changed hands four times over the next two minutes. Lander eventually pulled away over the final minutes thanks to a Tyler Brevard layup and a dagger 3-pointer from Berrien.

"My heart goes out to the guys," said head coach Robert Moore. "Every single one of them played their hearts out and it hurts to see them disappointed."

"We were up 16, so it's hard not to imagine how close we were to achieving our goals. Ultimately, Lander made the key plays and we didn't, so my hat goes off to them."

Landrius Horton posted his second straight double-double for the Cougars. A day after hitting the game-winning shot against No. 17 UNC Pembroke to send CSU to the finals, the senior scored 21 while grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds.

Bryant Givens added 16 points and seven assists while Hunter Preston was a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor to chip in 12. 

As a team, the Cougars shot 46 percent (29-for-63) from the floor and 44.4 percent (8-for-18) from beyond the arc. CSU was 7-for-9 at the free throw line.

First Half

Columbus State owned the opening 20 minutes of play. The Cougars hit their first three shots of the afternoon to race out to a 6-2 lead. After Lander found its stroke from deep, the Bearcats edged ahead 10-8 with 16:03 showing on the clock. On the following trip down the floor, Givens nailed a jumper to begin a dominant 21-3 run to put the Cougars ahead 29-13 with 8:41 showing on the clock. Five different players scored in the spurt with L. Horton having seven while Preston was 3-for-3 for six points. In the closing moments of the first, the Bearcats were able to cut the deficit to 11 before halftime, but the Cougars went to the locker room ahead 40-27.

Second Half

Taylor nailed a three 14 seconds into the half to put CSU up 43-27. However, from there Lander began its march back. With the Cougars up 12 (49-37), Lander went on a 10-2 run to pull within four before the under 12-media timeout. It looked like the Cougars shook off the rally, scoring nine of the next 11 to regain a double-digit lead at 60-49 with under 10 to go. Once again though, the Bearcats had an answer. Another run, this time a 10-0 spurt, brought the hosts within one (60-59) at the 6:43 mark. Givens would do his best to keep the Cougars ahead by hitting two 3-pointers over the minute-and-a-half, including one to give CSU a 66-64 edge with four minutes to go. Down 68-67, Tyler Brevard put the Bearcats ahead with a layup before a dagger 3-pointer from Berrien. Columbus State was alive until the end as Sidney Robinson missed a chance to ice the game from the free throw line with two seconds remaining. However, CSU wasn't able to get a clean rebound before the horn sounded.

Cougar Trends & Notes
  • L. Horton and Preston were named to the All-Tournament team.
  • Columbus State has lost its last four PBC Tournament Championship games dating back to its last title in 2005.
  • CSU has appeared in a PBC record 13 tournament championships.
  • Lander is the only PBC school to have a winning record over the Cougars in tournament play. The Bearcats are now 6-5 over the Cougars. 
  • L. Horton finished his season with six double-doubles. He also went over 20-points in 12 outings. 
  • Lander shot 24 free throws compared to nine from the Cougars.
  • The Bearcats outscored the Cougars 14-6 in second-chance points. 
  • CSU made eight or more 3-pointers in six of its final seven games of the season.
Print Friendly Version