Columbia Men Put up 95, Pull Off Big Win at Reinhardt

WALESKA, Ga. - The Columbia College men's basketball team posted probably their biggest win of their inaugural season on Saturday as they knocked off perennial AAC contender Reinhardt University 95-89 on the road.

Columbia shot a season-best 57 % from the floor overall and 32 percent from three, knocking down 8 treys led by a season-high six players in double-figure scoring. Senior guard Kendall Brasfield scored his 1,000th career point in the win while leading the Koalas with 22 points on 9 of 12 shooting along with 4 assists and 4 rebounds.

The win improves CC to 11-10 overall and 4-9 in the conference while it was their 2nd road conference win and 6th road win overall. Also playing well was AAC Player of the Week Nakia Johnson as he posted another double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds with 3 blocks.

The Koalas got out to a fast start after 13 minutes running up a score of 17-3 on the Eagles after first going up 9-0 on three conscecutive three-pointers to force RU into a timeout as CC came out ready to play.  However, RU eventually found their offense and went on a prolonged 23-4 run to retake the lead at 26-21 at the 8-minute mark. The Koalas would then outscore the Eagles by five over the remainder of the half to go into the break tied up at 43.

In the second half, a tightly played period came down to the wire as neither team would lead by more than five with RU taking their biggest lead of the game at just 68-63 at the 13-minute mark. However, the Koalas would coem charging back quickly going on a 7-0 run to go up 70-68 over the next two minutes. Reinhardt would take their last lead of the game at 83-82 with 4:30 to go as Columbia would then rally again and finish the game on a 13-6 run to grab their 11th victory.

Also finishing in double figures were Wings, Chandler O'Bannon and Thomas Whitley as well as guards AJ Vaught and Mac Washington. O'Bannon had 11 points, a block, and 4 rebounds while Whitley added 13 points and 4 assists. Vaught recorded 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and a block whilen Washington had 14 points, 3 steals, and a block off the bench. Senior guard Alvaro Mendez also added 7 points and 4 assists.

The Koalas next return to action on Wednesday when they head north to Kentucky to battle Union at 7:30 pm.