COLUMBUS - The Columbus State University men's basketball team will play its third game of the week on Saturday against Peach Belt Conference leaders No. 21 Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla. Tipoff is at 3:30 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
• The Cougars played another game down to the wire, inching by USC Aiken 69-67 on Wednesday in Columbus. CSU used a 15-3 run to make up an 11-point second-half deficit to stun the Pacers. Grant Howard and Hunter Preston both had 21 for the Cougars.

COUGAR NOTES
• Saturday will be CSU's (15-6, 6-5 PBC) fourth game against a ranked opponent this season. CSU has gone 2-1 so far against nationally-ranked competition 
• CSU's last four games have all been decided by a single possession. CSU is 3-2 in games decided by five points or less
• Nelson Haskin has become one of the most feared shot blockers in the nation. The Demopolis, Ala. native is now tied for the nation's lead (DII level) with 57 blocks. He is quickly racing up the CSU single-season record list as well, currently sitting in the 8th spot
• CSU committed just five turnovers on Wednesday. The Cougars rank 10th in the nation (DII level) for the fewest turnovers per game (10.10)
• The Cougars still average a slightly positive rebounding margin for the year (0.9) but have been out-rebounded in six of the last seven games.    

SCOUTING FLAGLER
• Flagler (17-3, 10-1) is the hottest team in the PBC, winning seven straight after a statement victory on the road against Georgia College on Wednesday. FC blew open a 2-point game at the half to win 82-66 over the Bobcats
• Jaizec Lottie is the reigning PBC Player of the Week after winning the award for the third time this season. He is currently leading the conference in scoring (22.0 ppg) and assists (5.7 assists/g) and is seventh in shooting (47.2%), sixth in steals per game (1.6) and 11th in rebounding (6.7 reb/g). Lottie is seventh nationally in scoring
• FC has won five of its last six games by at least 10 points
• The Saints are 14-2 at home over the last two seasons. FC is 7-2 inside the Flagler Gymnasium & Clark Family Court in 2021-22

SERIES HISTORY
• Columbus State has owned the all-time series against the Saints, leading 12-3 since the series began in the 2009-10 campaign
• FC has won back-to-back games for the first time in the series however, following its 75-67 win over the Cougars in Columbus on Jan. 5