Columbia, Mo. - The 16^th- ranked Cougar men's basketball team extended their latest winning streak to eight games with an 68-59 conference win over Hannibal-LaGrange University at home on Thursday night. Columbia improves to 17-3 overall and 10-2 in the American Midwest Conference with the victory.

Jobe Dillard knocked down a pair of three-pointers in the opening minutes, as he scored 10 early points to give the Cougars a 13-5 lead just five minutes into the first half. Columbia continued to dominate from there, stretching their lead out to 25-7 on a three by Nic Reynolds at the 10:20 mark. The Trojans used an 8-1 run to cut the deficit to 11 and eventually pulled within four at 32-28 after an 11-3 run with a little over two minutes to play in the half. The Cougars answered with a 5-2 run to close the period and took a 37-30 lead into the halftime break after shooting 46 percent from the field. Dillard led all players with 13 points.

Jay Jones knocked down a three to begin the second half as the Trojans cut the halftime deficit back down to four, but the Cougars quickly extended their lead out to 17 with the help of a 16-3 run over the next five and a half minutes. The Trojans continued to hang around, pulling within nine at 58-49 after using a 13-5 run at the 7:38 mark. A three-pointer by Dillard and basket by Colt Schneider stretched the Cougar lead back out to double-digits. The Columbia defense tightened up from there as they walked away with their eighth straight victory.

The Cougars finished the game at 40 percent from the field while the Trojans shot 44 percent on the night. Dillard led all scorers with a season-high 21 points while also pulling down a season-high six rebounds. Zach Rockers also finished in double-digits with 20 points to go along with a game-high seven rebounds.

Columbia will face off with Williams Baptist College on the road in their next game on Saturday, January 24^th. The Cougars defeated the Eagles 68-37 in the two teams' last meeting on November 22^nd in Columbia. Game time is scheduled for 4:00 pm in Walnut Ridge, Ark.