Box Score Marshall, Mo. - The Cougar men's basketball team won their fourth straight game to open the 2013-14 season on Tuesday night, defeating non-conference opponent Missouri Valley College by a score of 84-70. Columbia, ranked 4^th in the Preseason NAIA Top 25 Poll, improves to 4-0 on the year with the win.

Derrick Dilworth scored the Cougars' first eight points of the night as Columbia jumped out to an 18-7 lead less than six minutes into the first half. The Cougars led by as many as 15 in the opening frame on their way to a 42-33 halftime lead. Devin Griffin led Columbia with 11 points in the first period. The Cougars stretched their lead out to 18 in the second half and held the Vikings to 34 percent shooting for the game to earn the road victory.

Columbia hit 28 of 58 attempts (48 percent) from the field on the night, led by a game-high 23 points from Griffin off the bench. Dilworth and Chantel Stanciel also finished in double figures for the Cougars with 16 and 12 points, respectively. Patric Massey added four blocked shots for Columbia as well.

The Cougars will return home to host the 2013 Hampton Inn Classic on Friday, November 29^th and Saturday, November 30^th. Coumbia will take on Central Methodist University at 8:00 p.m. on Friday night, followed by a 3:00 p.m. matchup with Baker University on Saturday afternoon. Fellow American Midwest Conference (AMC) member school Missouri Baptist University will also participate in the event. All games will be played at the Arena of Southwell Complex in Columbia.