COLUMBUS - Georgia Southwestern University closed the second half on an 18-6 run before eventually clipping the Columbus State University men's basketball team 70-67 in overtime on Wednesday night. The Peach Belt Conference game took place inside the Lumpkin Center.

Things were looking bright for CSU (13-5, 5-4 PBC) with just over seven minutes to go after Lederrius Jones nailed a 3-pointer to put the Cougars up 57-45. However, GSW had other things planned. The Hurricanes closed out regulation on an 18-6, while the Cougar offense went just 3-for-13 from the floor to close out the final seven minutes and 11 seconds. GSW tied the game with 0.4 seconds on the clock after Jarrett Adderton drew a foul on a 3-point attempt. The guard calmly hit all three free throws to deadlock the score.

Columbus State's offense couldn't get much going in overtime after Langston Gaither tied the game at 66 with 3:06 to play. The game was tied again at 67 before Devon Higgs connected on the game-winning shot with 28 seconds to go. CSU launched a last-second shot, but it was no good.

"This one is a tough one to swallow," commented head coach Robert Moore. "You can't play complacent, and that's what happened over the final minutes. We are going to have to regroup quickly before Georgia College gets in here on Saturday."

Columbus State got off to a slow start on Wednesday as GSW raced out to a 9-2 run to begin the game. It was 14-6 before the Cougars found their stroke. CSU rattled off six straight points, but GSW held on to the lead thanks to three buckets.  

GSW was up 24-14 with under seven to go until the half when the Cougars grabbed the momentum. Columbus State closed out the half on a 17-4 run, with Grant Howard contributing six in the spurt. The Cougars were 5-for-5 over the final six-plus minutes of the half to take a 31-28 lead into the break.

The Cougars continued to play well into the second, limiting GSW to just two points over the first six-and-a-half minutes. CSU used the 14-2 run to start the half to take a game-high 15 point lead, 45-30, with 13:05 to go before going cold to allow GSW back in.

Gaither led CSU with 16 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Nelson Haskin added 14 points, seven rebounds and seven blocks. Hunter Preston (13) and Howard (11) were also in double-figures.

Kahlon Whitley paced GSW with 18 points coming off the bench with Adderton adding 17. 

CSU shot 37.1% (26-for-70) as a team and was 8-for-24 from behind the arc. GSW posted a 35.2% (25-for-71) shooting mark.

UP NEXT
Columbus State will host Georgia College inside the Lumpkin Center on Saturday, Jan. 29 at 3:30 p.m.

GAME NOTES
• GSW doubled up CSU in second-chance points. The Hurricanes had 10 while the Cougars totaled just five
• The Hurricanes held a commanding 55-38 rebounding advantage
• Haskin's seven blocks are the most by a PBC player in a game this season
• It's the first time this year that Howard has scored in double figures in back-to-back games
• Columbus State still leads the overall series 16-14 with GSW snapping a five-game losing streak to the Cougars