COLUMBUS – The Columbus State University Men's Basketball team controlled the game from start to finish Wednesday night, earning a 77-68 Peach Belt Conference victory over conference rival North Georgia inside the Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center on Sea of Red Night.
Columbus State set the tone, scoring 46 first-half points and building a commanding 46-30 advantage at the break. The Cougars shot an efficient 50.0 percent from the field in the opening half and connected on nine three-pointers to seize momentum and control the tempo.
Senior guard
Marlon Smith delivered a standout performance with a game-high 29 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, while adding nine rebounds and three assists, as
Lee Langstaff II chipped in 12 points on an efficient 5-of-6 shooting night and
Jordan Mitchell contributed 14 points and seven rebounds in 31 minutes of action. Columbus State also forced 20 turnovers and converted them into key points to keep separation throughout the contest.
In the second half, the Cougars stretched the lead to 20 points with just under 11 minutes remaining. North Georgia tried to mount a rally behind a balanced scoring effort, but Columbus State's perimeter shooting and defensive pressure proved to be too much to overcome. The Cougars finished the night shooting 41.4 percent from three-point range (12-of-29) and limited UNG's comeback opportunities down the stretch.
The evening carried added significance as the Cougars wore specialty jerseys that were auctioned off after the game, with all proceeds supporting the Miracle Riders Foundation.
With the win, Columbus State improves to 14–6 overall and 8–4 in Peach Belt Conference play. They will continue conference action on the road Saturday, January 31, traveling to St. Augustine, Fla., to face Flagler College inside the Flagler Gymnasium with tip-off set for 3:30 p.m.
