WILSON, N.C. - Behind 20-point performances from Christian Chambers and Langston Gaither, the Columbus State University men's basketball team defeated Barton College 85-76 on Friday night in the Cougars' season-opener. The game was a part of the 45 Second Classic hosted by BC.

CSU (1-0) held the lead nearly the entire night, but Barton made things interesting after a surge late in the first half. The Cougars were up by a game-high 13 with 2:38 to go in the first before the Bulldogs scored eight of the final 10 points of the half to go into the break down just 41-34.

Barton (0-1) continued to cut into the lead, finally pulling within one at the 16:30 mark in the second. Columbus State fended off Barton, thanks in part to Chambers scoring 11 of the Cougars' first 15 points in the second half. 

At the 9:03 mark, CSU held just a 64-63 lead before a 3-pointer from Langston Gaither jumpstarted a 13-4 Cougar run that put the game away. 

"This team is hungry, and they knew we needed to start the year off with a win," commented head coach Robert Moore. "Christian and Langston carried us for sure in the scoring column, but we had a lot of guys that contributed in different ways tonight."

Chambers tied a career-high with 24 points, while Gaither added 20 in his first game in a Cougar uniform. Gaither added a game-high seven assists and four rebounds.

Anthony Moore had an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double with Nelson Haskin adding a career-high 14 rebounds.

As a team, the Cougars shot 50% (31-for-62) from the floor and were 75% (18-for-24) at the free throw line. CSU hit five of its 16 3-point attempts.

UP NEXT
Columbus State will have a quick turnaround, taking on Mount Olive University on Saturday at 11 a.m. on the second day of the 45 Second Classic. UMO lost to Augusta University 83-65 earlier on Friday.

Game Notes
• Chambers and Gaither combined to go 15-for-28 (55.56%) from the floor
• Hunter Preston was also in double figures in scoring with 11 points
• It was the sixth career double-double for Moore in his Cougar career. The fifth-year player had three last season
• Haskin set a career-high with five blocks. The Cougars had six as a team
• CSU started the game 1-for-9 from 3-point range. In the second half, the Cougars went 4-for-7
• The Cougars are now 9-3 in season-openers under Robert Moore and 39-11 in season-openers in the Division II era