Box Score Batesville, Ark. - The Cougar men's basketball team wrapped up their third straight undefeated week with a 62-53 road victory at American Midwest Conference (AMC) foe Lyon College on Saturday afternoon. Columbia, ranked No. 6 in the latest release of the NAIA Top 25 Poll, improves to 22-2 overall and 13-1 in conference play with the win.

Tanner Sutton and Devin Griffin knocked down back-to-back three pointers to start the game as the Cougars built an 8-0 just two minutes into the first half. Columbia continued to dominate from there, stretching their lead out to 18-4 on a basket by Patric Massey at the 9:19 mark. The Cougars maintained the lead for the remainder of the opening period and went into the halftime break up 28-19 after shooting 53 percent from the field.

Columbia held the Scots at bay for the majority of the second half, but a 12-4 run by Lyon midway through the period cut the Cougar advantage to 44-41 with 9:17 to play. Columbia would extend their lead back out to eight over the next four minutes and go up 54-46 on a bucket by Chantel Stanciel at the 5:13 mark. Devonte Young hit a three-pointer to pull the Scots within four at 57-53 with a little over a minute remaining, but the Cougar defense held Lyon scoreless the rest of the way and hit five of six free throws down the stretch to cap off the victory.

Griffin, who entered Saturday's contest averaging 23.8 points in Columbia's previous four games, hit 12 of 14 attempts at the free throw line and led the way for the Cougars with a game-high 20 points. Columbia shot 44 percent (18 for 41) from the field and limited the Scots to a 34 percent clip.

The Cougars will return home for a matchup with league opponent Williams Baptist on Thursday, February 13^th. Columbia earned a 77-72 victory in the two teams' first meeting of the year on January 9^th. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 pm at the Arena of Southwell Complex.