FLORENCE, S.C. – The Columbus State Men's Basketball team picked up a strong road win Friday night, knocking off Francis Marion 84-75 to open play at the Francis Marion Thanksgiving Classic. It was a complete team effort from start to finish, with the Cougars showing balance and energy.
Columbus State's offense was clicking, shooting 50% from the field and finding a rhythm in transition and in the half-court.
Jordan Mitchell was unstoppable, leading all scorers with 25 points on an impressive 11-of-13 shooting while also pulling down eight rebounds.
Marlon Smith delivered another steady outing, finishing with 11 points and a game-high nine rebounds while anchoring the Cougars on defense. Ahmed-Sory Soumahoro added 13 points, including key drives and fast-break finishes that helped Columbus State pull away in the second half. The Cougars also got quality minutes from the bench, contributing 33 points, and giving the Cougars a spark.
After taking a 38–34 lead into the half, Columbus State tightened the screws defensively and built the margin to 19 points midway through the second period. The Cougars controlled the glass, forced timely turnovers, and consistently turned defense into offense, allowing them to defeat Francis Marion down the stretch.
With the win, Columbus State improves to 3–2 on the season and will stay in Florence for one more matchup, taking on Chowan University on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. as part of the Francis Marion Thanksgiving Classic.
