Hot-Shooting Columbia Men Defeat SMC 83-79

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The visiting Columbia College men's basketball team shot 63% from the field over the final 20 minutes to defeat Spartanburg Methodist, 83-79 on the road Saturday afternoon. The win was the ninth of the season for the inaugural program.

The Koalas (9-5) were led by a team-high 23-point, 9-rebound game from junior forward Nakia Johnson, who went 7-for-7 from the field and 9-for-10 from the free-throw line to lead Columbia. Guards Kendall Brasfield and junior Thomas Whitley also finished in double-figures with 16 and 15 points, respectively to complete the trio of Koalas in double-digit scoring. Brasfield also added 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals in the win while whitley chipped in 7 rebounds, four threes, a steal and a block.

SMC got out to a fast 10-4 lead until the Koalas would go on a 20-10 run over 7 minutes to lead 24-20. CC would then head into the break up 34-31. Columbia then took thier largest lead of the game at the 12-minute mark on a three from Whitley to go up 55-47. CC then went up by nine on a dunk from Brasfield to lead 65-56 with 8 minutes to play. SMC then climbed to within 78-77 with a minute to go but CC made their free throws down the stretch for the win.

Columbia shot nearly 51% from the floor (28 of 55) while holding SMC to just one three-pointer and only 6.7 % from three. CC also out-rebounded the Pioneers 36-31 while forcing 10 turnovers and grabbing five steals led by 3 from Brasfield. Junior forward Chandler O'Bannon also led the team in rebounds with nine and blocks with two along with 4 points.

A trio of guards then combined to score 21 points and 5 assists off the bench for the Koalas as junior Mac Washington and sophomore Austin Harrell recorded 8 points each while senior Alvaro Mendez scored 5 points with 2 assists. Washington blocked two shots and had two helpers as well.

The Koala men now head into the holiday break with a 9-5 record as they swept the season series from the SMC Pioneers (3-9).

Columbia will now have three weeks off before returning to conference play on January 4 to host AAC powerhouse Pikeville at 4:00 PM from the Godbold Center.