WILSON, N.C. - An impressive second-half performance lifted the Columbus State University men's basketball team to a 88-67 victory over Mount Olive University on Saturday. The game was a part of the 45 Second Classic hosted by Barton College.

CSU (2-0) was up five, 36-31, at the break before shooting 59.4% (19-for-32) in the second half to outpace UMO for the 21-point victory. 

"The guys showed up today,"  commented head coach Robert Moore. "After a quick turnaround, they came to play, and that's all you can ask for as a coach.

"We are going to have a light workout tomorrow before gearing up for our home opener against a talented Morehouse College team on Monday." 

Langston Gaither continued to turn heads in his early Cougar showings, scoring 30 points thanks to going 4-for-6 from 3-point range. He grabbed seven rebounds to go along with a team-high three assists.

Gaither was the one that pulled the Cougars away as the transfer scored the first 13 points of the second half. After a pair of free throws cut CSU's lead to 41-35, Gaither nailed a 3-pointer before completing a 3-point play to stretch the lead to 12. The lead was up to 20 before the midpoint mark of the half.

Mount Olive held an early 11-7 lead before the first media timeout following a three from Alan Treakle. From there, the Cougars scored the next 11 points and never yielded the lead for the remainder of the game.

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Columbus State will host Morehouse College on Monday, Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. inside the Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center.