COLUMBUS – No. 25-ranked Columbus State men's basketball took on Clayton State on Wednesday night in the Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center for a Peach Belt Conference matchup.
 
The Cougars (13-2, 4-1 PBC) secured an 85-70 win over the Lakers (6-9, 0-5 PBC) to continue one of the program's best starts under the direction of Coach Robert Moore.
 
First Half
 
Columbus State opened with a bucket from Roman Son and a dunk from Kordell Brown to lead early. The following three and a half minutes resulted in an even 7-7 stretch, giving CSU an 11-7 edge as Jehloni James led with three points.
 
The Cougars followed up with a 13-7 run over the next four and half minutes with Son leading the charge with five points alongside four from Jarrett Adderton. CSU went 5-of-9 from the field in the stretch to lead 24-14.
 
Both teams competed in back-and-forth action in a 9-9 even run of scoring which moved the Columbus State advantage to 33-23 with four minutes to play. The Cougars closed out the half with an 8-7 run with four individuals contributing to the tally. CSU headed to the locker room with a 41-30 lead after shooting 43.8% (14-of-32) from the field, 37.5% (3-of-8) from three, and a perfect 10-of-10 from the foul line.
 
Second Half
 
Both teams battled in back-and-forth play which resulted in an even run of 10-10 scoring. Brown led with six points followed by Adderton adding four to give Columbus State a 51-40 lead with less than 15 minutes to go.
 
The Cougars further extended their lead to a 20-point edge with less than 10 minutes remaining. CSU went on a 17-8 run led by eight points from Wisdom Uboh and another four from Adderton. Columbus State made three long-range buckets while shooting 7-of-9 from the field in the run.
 
Clayton State edged out the Cougars in the following 12-11 stretch of scoring before closing out with a 10-6 run in the final four minutes of action. The Lakers outscored CSU 22-17 in the final eight minutes, but the deficit was too large to overcome as Columbus State secured an 85-70 victory.
 
Inside the Numbers

• CSU shot for 50.8% (32-of-63) from the field, 43.8% (7-of-16) from three, and 87.5% (14-of-16) from the foul line.
• A total of five Cougars notched double-digit scoring with Adderton and Brown leading the way with 16 each.
• James and Son followed with 11 each while Uboh scored 10.
• Jordan Mitchell notched eight boards and eight points as well.
• CSU held a 37-27 rebounding advantage with four players with five or more boards.
• Son dished out a team-leading six assists while Uboh notched four.

Next Up

• Columbus State will host USC Aiken on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET.