Columbia Men Knock off KCU in OT

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Columbia College men's basketball team squeaked out an overtime victory, 86-78 at home over Kentucky Christian University on Saturday afternoon.

With the win, Columbia improves to 10-9 overall and 3-8 in the AAC.

Junior wing Thomas Whitley led the Koalas with a season-high 24 points and five 3-pointers along with 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Junior forward Nakia Johnson also had a big day defensively notching a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds along with 2 blocks and a steal.

KCU (1-16) got out to a 27-17 start in the first half at the 9-minute mark before Columbia went on a 6-minute game-changing 17-5 run to take their first lead at 34-32 with 2:30 to play. CC would go on to lead 41-36 at the halftime break. Columbia would then stretch their lead to 10 points at 58-48 at the 12 minute mark of the second half before extending it to their largest lead of the game at 11 points with just under 8 minutes to play at 64-53.

KCU then took their only lead of the second half with 30 seconds to play when they went up 71-69. However, after a timeout the Koalas came back out and tied the game at 71 with a layup from Johnson off an assist from junior point guard AJ Vaught. Then, in overtime, two big 3-pointers from Whitley then gave CC a 6-point edge at 84-78 with a minute to go before his late free throws iced the game for the Koalas. CC outscored the Knights 15-7 in the extra period.

Vaught also finished in double-digit scoring psoting 12 points with 6 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals while fellow guard Austin Harrell also added 9 points off the bench. Senior wing Kendall Brasfield recorded 8 points with 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals as well. Guards Mac Washington and Alvaro Mendez then combined for 14 points and 7 rebounds off the bench as the Koalas shot 50 percent overall (33 of 66) and 32 percent from three.