COLUMBUS - The Columbus State University men's basketball team came up just short against 10th-ranked Augusta University 80-73 on Martin Luther King Jr. Day inside the Lumpkin Center. 

The Cougars (1-3, 1-3 PBC) found themselves down by one, 69-68, with two minutes to go following a Kalen Clifton jumper. On the ensuring Cougar possession, CSU missed the go-ahead bucket before Augusta (4-2, 4-2) close out the game at the free throw line going 11-for-11 over the final 63 seconds of the game.

Freshman Christian Chambers had 24 points for CSU after a 5-for-8 shooting performance on 3-point attempts.

"We made too many mental mistakes tonight," commented head coach Robert Moore. "We left shooters open and they took advantage of it. We are going to have to come out here on Wednesday night and play with a sense of urgency against gainst North Georgia." 
 

How It Happened

First Half

- It was all Augusta to begin the game as the Jaguars raced out to an 8-2 lead. The Cougars would begin getting their shot to fall, but the Jags wouldn't let their lead evaporate away, holding a seven-point advantage, 18-11, with 11:54 showing on the clock, until a Cougar run. A 12-4 spurt, fueled by 10 points from Chambers, gave Columbus State a 23-22 lead at the 8:10 mark. After the Jags retook a 28-26 lead, back-to-back 3-pointers from Devan Porter-Wilson and a layup by Chambers on a fastbreak gave the Cougars their largest lead of the night at 31-28. The two sides would exchange the lead over the final minute of the half with a dunk by Lee Flenor giving Augusta a 37-36 lead at the break.

Second Half

- Quick 3-pointers by Davion Thomas and Clifton put the Cougars back in front at 44-41 with just two minutes off the clock. CSU wouldn't trail again until the 13:45 mark after a successful an-one from Flenor edging the Jags ahead 50-48. Augusta threatened to blow the game open by taking a six-point lead, 60-54, but the hot-shooting Chambers kept CSU alive. Two more 3's by the freshman tied the game at 60 with 9:45 showing on the clock. From there, the Cougars had chances to regain the lead, but Augusta would stifle each attempt, including the final effort in the closing minutes.

 

Box Score Breakdown

• Clifton was the only other Cougar, besides Chambers, to score in double-figures with a 17-point performance. • Clifton and Chambers combined for 41 if CSU's 73 points. Both guards connected on 8 field goals during the night.   • Columbus State's bench scored 42 points while all 80 Jaguar points came from their starters.  • Lucas-White scored a game-high 25 points for Augusta while Flenor had 16 points and a game-high nine rebounds. • Neither team held a larger lead than seven points. There were 10 lead changes and the score was tied eight times. • Nelson Haskin had four blocks for the Cougars and pulled in seven rebounds.

 

Cougar Notes

• Columbus State tied a season-high with 10 made 3-pointers. The 43.5% mark from beyond the arch was a season-best. • The Cougars went 3-for-9 (33%) at the free throw line. Entering tonight, CSU was shooting 73.4% (28-for-38) from the charity stripe. • It's the first back-to-back home losses for the Cougars since Feb. 2019.  • Augusta leads the all-time series 49-35 after the win.

 

Up Next

Columbus State will close out its longest homestand of the year on Wednesday, Jan. 20 as the University of North Georgia visits Columbus. Once again, no spectators will be allowed inside the Lumpkin Center due to COVID-19 safety concerns. Fans can listen to the game on 88.5 FM WCUG radio or watch it broadcasted on Cougar Sports TV.