Columbia Men's Shooting Struggles Lead to Loss

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Columbia College men's basketball team struggled shooting the ball on Saturday as they fell 74-51 to AAC foe Bryan College (TN) at home.

Junior forward Nakia Johnson led the Koalas with a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds with 2 blocks while junior guard Tae Burton added 10 points and 3 assists off the bench. Senior guard Kendall Brasfield also chipped in 8 points and 6 rebounds while sophomore guard Austin Harrell posted 9 points and 2 assists with three treys.

Bryan took a 38-23 halftime lead before pulling away midway thru the second half as the Koalas could get no closer than 14 points. CC shot just 29 percent from the floor and 24 percent from three while out-rebounding the Lions 45-44. Bryan shot 42 percent for the game. 

Junior wing Thomas Whitley pulled down 9 rebounds while shooting guards Alvaro Mendez and Norman Haynes combined for 6 points off the bench.

The Koalas fall to 6-3 on the season and 2-2 in the AAC while Bryan improved to 4-4 and 2-1 in conference. The men will next be in action on Tuesday evening when they go across town to battle rival CIU at 7:30 pm.