CARROLLTON, Ga. - The Columbus  State University men's basketball team rallied from nearly 20-points down to defeat the University of West Georgia 85-74 on Saturday. The non-conference game took place in The Coliseum in Carrollton, Ga.  

It was an inauspicious start for the Cougars, as West Georgia stormed out to a 14-2 lead before eventually going up 19 after Deng Nhial hit a 3-pointer at the 5:18 mark in the opening half. 

Columbus State (5-1) turned things around from there, closing the half on an 18-4 run to go into the break down 37-32. The Cougars were 7-for-11 from the field over the final five-plus minutes of the first, with Anthony Moore scoring seven in the run. 

West Georgia wouldn't give up the lead easily in the second as a 3-pointer from Seth Brown-Carter pushed the Wolves' lead to 43-36 less than two minutes in. However, the Cougars had another run in them, scoring 13 of the next 15 points to grab a 47-45 advantage.

The Cougars wouldn't give up the lead for the remainder of the game, but UWG would remain in striking distance until the final moments. With CSU up 77-72 with 2:32 to play, the Cougars outscored the Wolves 8-2 to close out the victory.

Hunter Preston scored a season-high 23 points for the Cougars, while Moore posted a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double. Moore also had a team-high five assists. Christian Chambers added 18 points for CSU.

Columbus State shot 47.7% (31-for-65) from the field, despite going 6-of-21 from 3-point range. 

Michael Zabetakis had 23 points for the Wolves. 

UP NEXT
Columbus State will have some time off before hosting a two-day tournament inside the Lumpkin Center on Friday, Dec. 3 and Saturday, Dec. 4. The Cougars take on Tuskegee University at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. 

GAME NOTES
• Preston becomes the fourth Cougar this season to post a 20-plus point game (Chambers, Langston Gaither & Devan Porter-Wilson)
• It was Moore's second double-double of the year (vs. Barton College)
• CSU outscored UWG 19-5 in fastbreak points 
• The Cougars shot 55.9% (19-for-34) in the second half 
• CSU tied a season-low with 11 turnovers (vs. UAH)