Box Score Walnut Ridge, Ark. – The Cougar men's basketball team won their ninth consecutive game on Saturday night, defeating American Midwest Conference (AMC) opponent Williams Baptist College by a score of 61-43. Columbia, ranked No. 16 in Tuesday's latest release of the NAIA Top 25 Poll, moves to 18-3 overall and 11-2 in league play with the victory. With the win, the Cougars also improve to 31-3 all-time against the Eagles.

The two teams went back and forth to start the first half as the Cougars led 8-7 after seven minutes of play. Tanner Sutton knocked down a three-pointer to put Columbia up 11-7 at the 13:29 mark and sparked an 11-2 run to make it 22-9. The Cougars continued to lead by double-digits until the Eagles scored nine straight points to pull within seven with two minutes left to play in the half. Two free throws and another Sutton three pointer put Columbia up 33-21, but Williams Baptist scored four points in the last minute and a half as the Cougars went into the halftime break up 33-25. Columbia shot 38 percent in the first half led by Zach Rockers with 12 points.

Sutton knocked down a three to begin the second half to give the Cougars the 36-25 lead, but the Eagles would stick around and use a 10-2 run to make it 38-35. Columbia took off from there and used 13-3 run to gain some separation at 51-38, and would outscore the Eagles 10-5 over the final six minutes to pick up their ninth straight victory.

Columbia finished the game at 39 percent from the field led by Rockers and Sutton with 16 points apeice. Jeremy Nolen chipped in 10 points and Rockers pulled down a game-high eight rebounds as Columbia finished with a 35-32 advantage on the boards. Jackson Dubinski handed out six of the Cougars 12 assists.

The Cougars will return home to host AMC member Lyon College on Thursday, January 29^th at 7:30 p.m. Lyon defeated the Cougars 77-68 on the road in their last meeting back on December 4^th. Thursday's contest is set for a 7:30 pm start in the Arena of Southwell Complex.