Box Score Atchison, Kan. - The No. 1-ranked Columbia men's basketball team suffered a 73-59 defeat on the road at Benedictine (Kan.) College on Wednesday afternoon. The Cougars fall to 9-1 on the year with the loss, their first regular season defeat since February 2^nd, 2012. The Ravens, ranked 13^th in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, improve to 10-1 overall with the win.

Columbia got off to a quick start in the first half as Derrick Dilworth knocked down a pair of three-pointers in the opening minutes to stake the Cougars with an early 8-2 lead. The two squads traded baskets during the next ten minutes, with Columbia holding a 24-20 advantage at the 8:40 mark. However, Benedictine would hold the Cougars scoreless and use an 11-0 run over the next six minutes to grab the lead on their way to a 37-31 edge at the halftime break. Columbia shot 50 percent from the field and 62 percent from three-point range in the first period but also committed nine turnovers, while the Ravens connected on 14 of 29 attempts (48 percent). The Cougars kept things close to begin the second half and trailed 49-47 after a bucket by Wendell Crowder at the 9:22 mark. Benedictine would respond with a 6-0 run to stretch their lead back out to eight and eventually built a double-digit lead with 3:06 to play in regulation. A basket by Devin Griffin made it 66-58 with 2:54 remaining, but the Ravens were able to cap off the upset victory with a 7-1 run to end the game.

Columbia shot a season-low 39.6 percent from the field on the day and hit just one of 12 attempts from behind the three-point line during the final period. Griffin finished with 18 points to lead three Cougars in double figures, with Dilworth and Patric Massey adding 16 and 11 respectively. Benedictine shot 46 percent from the floor and owned a 42-30 advantage on the boards, led by Charlie Wallrapp with a game-high 21 points and 11 rebounds. John Harris Jr. also added 14 points and led all players with five assists.

Columbia will return to the court on Friday, December 28^th and Saturday, December 29^th to host the Cougars vs. Cancer Classic, presented by Cost Cutters. Columbia will face off against Avila University on Friday at 8 pm, followed by a matchup with 18^th-ranked Culver-Stockton College on Saturday at 8 pm. All games will be played at the Arena of Southwell Complex.