ALBANY, Ga. - The Columbus State University men's basketball team rallied from a 17-point second-half deficit to defeat Albany State University 78-75 in a non-conference road game Monday night.

After storming back to tie the game at 75, Langston Gaither hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 28 seconds to play off an in-bound play to lift the Cougars (14-6) to the win.

"I thought we were dead in the water, but we kept fighting and fighting," commented head coach Robert Moore. "The guys executed the game-winning shot perfectly, and we needed this bounce-back win." 

Columbus State was down by 17 with 13 to go in the game before making its comeback attempt. Nelson Haskin helped jumpstart the rally on the defensive end with two key blocks to help cut the lead into single digits at 57-48 with under 10 to go. 

The Cougars were able to inch within three on multiple occasions before tying the game at 75 in the final minute.

Gaither got his opportunity to put the Cougars on top and didn't miss, connecting on the three in the corner. 

Albany State (7-14) still had an opportunity, but CSU fouled before the Golden Rams put up a tying 3-point shot. 

Christian Chambers led the Cougars in scoring with 22 points, including 17 in the second half. The second-year freshman had five steals. Haskin had a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double to go along with three blocks. Gaither added 12. 

The Cougars shot 43.1% (31-for-72) from the field and were 8-for-33 (24.2%) on their 3-point attempts.

Travis Baker had 19 points for ASU, with Jordan Simpson having a 18-point, 14-rebound double-double.

UP NEXT
Columbus State will jump back into Peach Belt Conference play on Wednesday, Feb. 2 against USC Aiken. Tip off is at 7:30 p.m. inside the Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center 

COUGAR NOTES
• The Cougars wrap up non-conference play with a 9-1 record
• CSU improves to 2-2 in games decided by five points or less. The last three games have been decided by three or fewer points
• Chambers has 3 20-plus point games this year. It's his first since scoring 24 against Claflin University on Dec. 13 
• It's the second time this year the Cougars have rallied from a 15-plus point deficit. CSU's largest come from behind win was 19 points against the University of West Georgia on Nov. 27
• CSU closes the month of January with a 5-4 record 
• The Cougars are now 7-3 on the road