WILSON, N.C. – Columbus State University Men's Basketball began the 2024-25 campaign in Wilson, N.C. at the Hampton Inn & Suites and Tru by Hilton 45 Second Classic hosted by Barton (N.C.) on Friday night.
 
The Cougars (1-0) defeated the Bulldogs (0-1) in a 78-60 victory, taking down the hosts on their home court in Wilson Gymnasium.
 
First Half
 
Barton opened on a 7-0 run, but Columbus State quickly answered with a run of their own to level the score within the first four minutes of play. Over the next eight minutes, both teams would trade back and forth play with the Cougars outscoring the hosts 19-13 to lead 26-20. Jarrett Adderton led the eight minutes of play with 11 points helping CSU go 8-for-12 from the floor in the process.
 
The Cougars would go on to close out the half, besting the Bulldogs 15-11 in the last six or so minutes. Adderton poured in six more points, followed by four from Rakeim Gary.
 
Columbus State held a 41-31 advantage at the intermission, led by Adderton's 17 points followed by Jehloni James' six and Gary's five. The Cougars shot for 48.5% (16-of-33) from the field, 30% (3-of-10) from beyond the arc, and 54.5% (6-of-11) from the foul line.
 
Second Half
 
Kordell Brown opened the scoring for the Cougars to push the advantage to 12 points early. Barton battled with a pair of free throws and a layup to cut the deficit to single digits, however Columbus State would go on to keep a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game.
 
A pair of scores from Adderton followed by a trey from Roman Son at the 13:58 marker helped the Cougars return to a controlling lead with a 7-2 run. Both teams would go back and forth for the next few minutes as CSU would hover between a 12 to 14-point lead.
 
CSU fought hard late in the second half outscoring BC 20-14 in the last six and a half minutes to close out the game with a 78-60 victory on the road. James led with seven points down the stretch with Gary tacking on six. CSU closed the half shooting 8-of-14 from the field and 2-of-4 from the arc as well as from the foul line.
 
Inside the Numbers

• Adderton led with 23 points as one of four Cougars in double figures, recording two assists.
• James finished with 13 points and a team-leading nine rebounds followed by Gary with 11 points and four assists.
• Son closed out the scorers in double-digits with 10 points and three assists.
• CSU finished the night shooting for 49.2% (32-of-65) from the field, 31.6% (6-of-19) from three, and 44.4% (8-of-18) from the foul line.
• Defensively, the Cougars gathered nine steals and two blocks.
• Adderton led with four steals while Gary notched three.
• Barton gave up 17 turnovers while Columbus State gave up 10.
• The Cougars outscored the Bulldogs 15-8 off turnovers.
• CSU lost the rebounding battle 53-42, struggling with just nine offensive boards compared to Barton's 22.
• The Cougars' bench produced 15 points while Barton's produced 24.
• CSU leads Barton 5-0 in all meetings. 

Next Up

• Columbus State will take on Mount Olive (N.C.) tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. ET in Wilson to wrap up the Hampton Inn & Suites and Tru by Hilton 45 Second Classic.