Columbia, Mo. - The Columbia College men's basketball team scored their tenth straight victory tonight, defeating American Midwest Conference (AMC) opponent Lyon College by a final score of 61-48. Lyon took a win from Columbia on December 4^th by a score of 77-68. Columbia, ranked 13th in the NAIA, improves to 19-3 on the season and 12-2 in conference play. The Scots of Lyon College drop to 12-9 overall and 9-5 in the AMC.

The Cougars trailed 13-8 after five minutes of play, but a trio of three pointers by Travis Vogt and a bucket by Tanner Sutton made the score 19-13 to give Columbia their largest lead of the half. The Scots quickly responded with a 7-0 run to regain the lead at 20-19. Both teams kept things close throughout the remainder of the half, as the lead changed hands eight different times. The Cougars headed into the halftime break down 27-26 after shooting 45 percent from the field. Lyon shot 48 percent from the field and finished with a 13-10 advantage on the boards.

The teams continued to battle back and forth to begin the second half, as the Cougars trailed 31-30 four minutes in. However, Columba gained some separation with the help of a 9-2 run to make it 39-33 at the 13:35 mark. Both squads traded baskets over the next two minutes, and Lyons' Devonte Young drained a three pointer to cut the visiting team's deficit back down to three at 41-38. The game remained close as the Cougars led 45-41 over the next three minutes, but with just under six minutes left in regulation, Zach Rockers came up big with a three to extend the Columbia lead out to seven. They maintained a seven point lead over the next five minutes and gained their largest lead of the game by 13 with 23 seconds remaining. The Cougars proved to be too much as they pulled away with their tenth straight win dating back to December 20^th. 

Columbia shot 50 percent in the final period to finish at 48 percent on the night, led by Rockers with 21 points to go along with a game-high six rebounds. Vogt and Sutton ended the night in double figures as well with 12 points apiece while Sutton also gave out a season-high five assists. Devonte Young had 12 points to lead the Scots, who were held to 46 percent from the floor on the night.

The Cougars will be back in action Saturday, January 31^st as they host fifth-ranked Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) University in the NAIA Network Game of the Week. The Lions defeated Columbia 65-58, back on December 6^th. Tip-off for Saturday's game is set for 4:00 pm at the Arena of Southwell Complex.