Columbus State University Athletics

COLUMBUS, Ga. | Columbus State University Men's Basketball opened the 2026-27 season with an 82-77 victory over Auburn University at Montgomery on Monday, November 9, in front of 547 fans at the Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center. 

The Cougars and Warhawks went back and forth throughout the night in a game that featured five ties and five lead changes. With the score even at 77 late in the second half, Columbus State scored the final five points to secure the season-opening victory. 

The night also marked the first game as a Cougar for Promise Idiaru, who missed the entire 2025-26 season following a cancer diagnosis. Idiaru rang the bell in February after completing treatment and made his comeback to basketball with Columbus State on Monday night. He finished with 10 points, six rebounds, four assists, and a team-high three steals in 30 minutes. 

His return added another layer to a season-opening night that brought the Columbus State community together inside the Lumpkin Center, with 547 fans on hand to welcome the Cougars back to the floor. 

The win moves CSU to 1-0 overall, while AUM falls to 0-1. 

Senior guard Lee Langstaff II led the Cougars with 24 points, six rebounds, and six assists in 34 minutes. Langstaff shot 10-for-18 from the field and went 3-for-3 at the free throw line. 

Columbus State entered halftime with a 42-36 advantage after shooting 41.7 percent from the field during the opening 20 minutes. AUM continued to battle in the second half and took a 71-69 lead with 4:48 remaining. 

Langstaff answered immediately, scoring seven consecutive CSU points during a critical late-game stretch. He tied the game with a layup before helping Columbus State regain the advantage and later completed an and-one opportunity with 3:11 remaining to put the Cougars ahead 77-73. 

AUM responded with four straight points to tie the game at 77 with 2:10 remaining, setting up the decisive final stretch. 

Following a Columbus State timeout, Idiaru found Domonik Henderson for a dunk with 1:46 left to put CSU back in front 79-77. After an AUM miss, Idiaru secured the defensive rebound to give the Cougars another possession. 

Idiaru then collected an offensive rebound and converted the putback with 46 seconds remaining to extend the lead to 81-77. 

Pascal Volz delivered one of the biggest defensive plays of the night with 21 seconds remaining, recording a steal and drawing a foul in transition. He converted one free throw to give Columbus State an 82-77 advantage, and the Cougars held AUM scoreless during its final possession. 

Volz provided a major lift off the bench, finishing with 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting from the field. He connected on two three-pointers while adding four rebounds, three assists, and one steal. 

Idiaru's impact was especially important down the stretch. His assist on Henderson's go-ahead dunk and offensive rebound and putback in the final two minutes helped turn his return to the court into a pivotal part of the victory. 

Henderson added 13 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block. Masiah Jones also reached double figures with 10 points on 5-for-7 shooting. 

Columbus State shot 49.2 percent from the field and held a 44-26 advantage in points in the paint. The Cougars recorded 21 assists on 32 made field goals, scored 19 points off turnovers, and received 25 points from the bench. 

AUM held a 39-32 rebounding advantage and scored 27 second-chance points. Victor Odiari led the Warhawks with 17 points and seven rebounds. 

The season-opening victory reflected both sides of the Columbus State program. The Cougars competed together in the closing minutes, while the Columbus State community came together behind Idiaru's return and the beginning of a new season. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Lee Langstaff II: 24 points, six rebounds, six assists, and 10 made field goals. 

• Pascal Volz: 16 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a pivotal steal with 21 seconds remaining. 

• Domonik Henderson: 13 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block. 

• Promise Idiaru: 10 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals in his regular-season CSU debut. 

• Columbus State: 49.2 percent shooting, 44 points in the paint, 21 assists, eight steals, and 25 bench points. 

UP NEXT: 

Your Cougars travel to Central, South Carolina, for the SWU Tournament on Friday, November 13, when Columbus State faces North Greenville University at Historic Tysinger Gymnasium. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.