COLUMBUS - The Columbus State University men's basketball team used a 15-6 run to close the first half that propelled the Cougars to a 90-75 win over Young Harris College on Wednesday night in Peach Belt Conference play inside the Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center.

The Cougars (16-7, 7-6 PBC) held a slim 27-23 lead at the 4:12 mark in the opening half before stepping on the jets to take full control. CSU shot 5-for-7 over the spurt, including hitting two 3-pointers, to go into the break up 42-29 before shooting 46.3% over the final 20 minutes to secure the win. 

"This was a nice win for the guys, commented head coach Robert Moore. "You can't take nights off in this league this season, and we came out and took care of business in front of our home crowd. We have to keep this momentum and take it on the road against a very hungry Clayton State team."

Columbus State was led by Grant Howard and Hunter Preston, who both posted 20-point outings. Howard finished the night with a season-high 22 points after going 9-for-14 from the floor. The guard added four assists and three rebounds to his tally. Preston continues to be a double-double machine, grabbing his fifth over the past month with 20 points and 14 rebounds. The fifth-year forward also had four assists and two steals. 

Devan Porter-Wilson added 19 points off the bench thanks to going 7-for-13 from the field, including 4-for-5 from downtown.

After coming out of the break, CSU's lead never dipped below nine. The Cougars used another run, this one a 14-6 spurt midway through the second half, to go up 65-48 with less than 10 to go. Preston and Porter-Wilson fueled the offense with six and five points, apiece. CSU's largest lead of the night came at the 3:47 mark when Howard connected on his final 3-pointer of the night to push the margin to 84-60.

Young Harris (5-18, 2-12 PBC) held an early lead after going up 16-12 midway through the opening half. However, CSU ran off nine of the next 11 points to move in front 21-18. After the sides exchanged buckets, Columbus State made its game-changing run, flipping the course of the night. 

Columbus State shot 44.3% (35-for-79) as a team, including going 11-for-31 (35.5%) from beyond the arc. 

Lenny Pradia paced YHC with 23 points, while Carl Cleveland had a 21-point, 13-rebound double-double. The Mountain Lions shot 46.9% (24-for-55) from the field and were 10-of-26 (38.5% from 3-point range.

UP NEXT
Columbus State will go back on the road for an in-state clash with Clayton State University on Saturday, Feb. 12. Tipoff is now at 5 p.m. after the announcement on Monday. 

COUGAR NOTES
• Columbus State grabbed 43 rebounds on Wednesday. The 43 boards are the most since Jan. 5, a span of 10 games. CSU out-rebounded YHC 43-39.
• The 43 rebounds also tied a season-high. 
• CSU's bench scored 33 points compared to just seven from Young Harris. Porter-Wilson led the way with 19, while Wisdom Uboh had eight. Mason Pierre and Noah Lott both hit 3's for CSU late in the game
• Howard has scored 20 or more points in two of his last three games. The guard has been in double-digits in points in five of the past seven games
• The Cougar offense set a season-high with 35 made buckets. 
• CSU turned the ball over just eight times, marking the ninth time this season that the Cougars have finished the night with 10 or fewer turnovers
• Columbus State still trails the all-time series 12-8 to the Mountian Lions. However, CSU is now 6-3 against YHC in Columbus