COLUMBUS - Brandon Thomas hit the game-winning shot with 1.4 seconds on the clock to give Georgia College a 69-68 victory over the Columbus State University men's basketball team on Saturday. 

GC (16-3, 8-2 PBC) tied the game at 66 on a Chapin Rierson 3-pointer with 1:17 showing the clock before the Cougar offense went to work. CSU got two chances for the go-ahead bucket before Lederrius Jones drew a foul to go to the line for a pair of free throws. The guard went 1-for-2 to put the Cougars in front with a possibility for a huge defensive stand.

On the next possession, the Cougar defense made the stop, with Hunter Preston grabbing the board and getting fouled for a one-and-one opportunity. The senior made the first but missed the second, keeping the score at 68-66 and giving the Bobcats hope.

GC raced the ball up the court before finding B. Thomas in the corner for the game-winning shot. CSU put up a desperation three, but it was no good.

"Another tough loss," stated head coach Robert Moore. "In this league, any small mistake can cost you a game, and that's what happened to us over the last two games. We don't have any time to feel sorry for ourselves because we have a busy week coming up."

The teams exchanged runs in the first half to set up the exciting finish. GC started the game by scoring the first seven points until the Cougars ran off an 11-0 spurt to take the lead. After some back-and-forth, CSU closed out the half on a 10-0 run to take a 31-24 halftime lead. Christian Chambers played a big role in the first half with 10 points. 

The Cougars (13-6, 5-5) started the second half well and built their largest lead of the night at 37-29 with 16:41 to go. However, Georgia College wouldn't go away. The Bobcats recovered and then went on a 9-0 run to grab a 47-44 lead midway through the half. 

From there, the two teams would exchange blows, trading off baskets until the game-winning shot. 

Four Cougars scored in double-figures led by 17 from Langston Gaither. Preston recorded a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double, with Lederrius Jones adding 12 points and four assists.

CSU shot 37.9% (25-for-66) from the floor and was 10-for-30 (33.3%) from beyond the arc. 

Wesley Simpson had a game-high 21 points for Georgia College. Jordan Thomas chipped in with 17 points and four rebounds.

The Bobcats shot 41.9% (26-for-62) overall and were 13-for-37 (35.1%) from long distance.

UP NEXT
Columbus State will play a non-conference game on Monday, Jan. 31 at Albany State University. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. 

GAME NOTES
• It's the second straight game CSU has lost on a game-winning shot in the closing seconds
• CSU had 11 fastbreak points compared to 0 from Georgia College
• It was Preston's third double-double this season. All three have come since Jan. 12 
• GC out-rebounded CSU 45-36. CSU hasn't won the battle on the glass outright over the last five games
• Columbus State still leads the all-time series 53-30, but GC has now won back-to-back meetings