DAHLONEGA, Ga. - A 19-4 run early in the second half propelled the Columbus State University men's basketball team to a 78-71 road victory over the University of North Georgia on Saturday.
Columbus State (13-4, 5-3 PBC) trailed from the opening tip and found itself down 45-39 four minutes into the second before a Grant Howard jumper changed the tide. The basket started a 19-4 run, which included a 10-0 spurt, that gave the Cougars a 58-49 lead. CSU would never surrender the lead from there to claim the key conference victory.
"These guys don't quit," commented head coach Robert Moore. "We moved the ball much better in the second half and played CSU basketball to get the win."
North Georgia (11-6, 4-4) was able to regroup after the run and kept the score within two possessions, including after a Frank Champion layup that made it 69-65 with 3:14 to go. Howard delivered another clutch basket for the Cougars to seize momentum back, hitting a 3-pointer to push the lead to 72-65.
In the closing minutes, Langston Gaither gave the Cougars a five-point lead with a driving jumper to close out the game.
Gaither (6-for-12 FG, 1-for-3 3-FG) scored 21 for the Cougars and dished out four assists. The senior was 8-for-9 at the free throw line and grabbed five rebounds.
Hunter Preston (8-for-16 FG) continued his great work with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Howard (6-for-9 FG, 2-for-3 3-FG) finished the night with 14 points.
North Georgia raced out to an early lead after Columbus State shot just 34.4% over the first half. The Nighthawks held a game-high 11-point lead, 18-7, at the 11:33 mark before CSU started to chip away.
The Cougars were able to cut the margin to four before UNG pulled away again to take a 39-30 lead in the closing minute of the half. Gaither hit a jumper to make it a 39-32 halftime margin.
Columbus State shot 44.3% (27-for-61) overall and went 5-for-19 on its 3-point attempts. CSU was nearly perfect at the line going 19-for-20.
Champion (9-for-12 FG, 11-for-13 FT) had 29 points for the Nighthawks and played a key role down the stretch.
UP NEXT
Columbus State will look for its third win in a row on Wednesday, Jan. 26 against Georgia Southwestern University at 7:30 p.m. inside the Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center.
GAME NOTES
• Preston is averaging 22 points and 9.3 rebounds over the last four games
• Gaither has six 20-plus point games this season
• Howard scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half
• Columbus State converted 16 UNG turnovers into 19 points. The Cougars committed only 10 turnovers
• CSU shot 55.2% (16-for-29) in the second half
