MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - After a frantic rally to force overtime, the Columbus State University men's basketball team dropped an 84-82 heartbreaking decision to Georgia College to conclude the regular season on Saturday. The game took place inside the Centennial Center in Milledgeville, Ga. 

The Cougars (19-9, 10-8) remain fifth in the Peach Belt Conference standings with the loss after play on Saturday and will travel to Aiken, S.C. to face USC Aiken in the quarterfinals of the PBC Tournament on Tuesday.  

"Tough loss for sure," commented head coach Robert Moore, "but, we have no time to feel sorry for ourselves. We start a new season on Tuesday and we are 0-0 going into the game against Aiken."

It was tight throughout, but Georgia College was threatening to pull away late in the second. Brandon Thomas nailed a 3-pointer to put GC on top 72-65 with just four to go when the Cougars responded. Five straight points by Hunter Preston cut the lead to two before a pair of free throws by Wesley Simpson made it a 74-70 game with 1:46 to play.

The Cougars didn't panic though, as Nelson Haskin made a jumper inside the pain to make it a one-possession game. Both defenses would stand strong until Langston Gaither drove into the paint and tied the game on a layup with 12 seconds showing on the clock. GC shot at the buzzer was no good, sending the game into overtime.

Columbus State started the extra session strong, going up 81-78. Gaither had the first seven points of OT for the Cougars, including connecting on a 3-pointer. However, a tough 3-pointer by Christian Koneman changed the course of the game as it tiled the score at 82. CSU would go up 82-81 on a free throw by Devan Porter-Wilson, but GC scored the final three points of the game to grab the victory. The Cougars did have a last-second shot, but the attempt was no good.

Gaither finished the night with a game-high 26 points, while Christian Chambers added 19. The second-year freshman was 5-for-6 from behind the arc. Haskin was the only other Cougar in double-figures in scoring with 15. Hunter Preston finished with nine points and rebounds to go with three steals and two blocks.

The two teams played the entire first half within five points of each other with the score being tied at 33 after 20 minutes of play. Georgia College led 21-19 with under nine to play when CSU used a quick 6-0 run to go in front 25-21. Preston and Chambers each had three in the spurt. 

The lead remained at four, 31-27,  until GC closed the half by scoring six of the final eight points to go into the break tied. 

The two long-time rivals continued to battle in the second. Neither team was able to pull away with GC finally making it a two-possession game on a Luke Chism 3-pointer at the 5:52 mark to put the Bobcats on top 66-62. CSU pulled back within one, 66-65, before back-to-back 3's from Chapin Rierson and Brandon Thomas gave the Bobcats the game-high seven-point lead, 72-65, with 4:01 to play. 

That's when the Cougars stormed back before falling in overtime.

Columbus State shot 42.4% (28-for-66) as a team and was 11-for-29 (37.9%) from 3-point range. 

Thomas led GC in scoring with 19, with four others in double-figures for the Bobcats. Simpson ended the night with 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists. 

GC closed the night out with a 47.5% (28-for-59) shooting mark and was 15-for-31 (48.4%) from beyond the arc. 

UP NEXT
Columbus State will travel to Aiken, S.C. to take on USC Aiken in the PBC Tournament quarterfinals. Tipoff time will be announced on Monday.

GAME NOTES
• The game featured 21 lead changes and 14 tie scores
• CSU is 0-2 in overtime this season 
• It's the first time this season Columbus State has made 10 or more 3-pointers in back-to-back games
• It's the first loss this season for the Cougars when shooting 40% or better from the floor. CSU was previously 17-0
• It was the seventh 20-plus point outing for Gaither and the first since scoring 21 against the University of North Georgia on Jan. 22
• Three of CSU's last four losses have been by a single possession