Columbia, Mo. - The Cougar men's basketball team picked up an 76-64 victory over conference foe Lindenwood University-Belleville on Thursday night at the Arena of Southwell Complex. Columbia, the 15^th-ranked team in the NAIA, improves to 20-4 overall and 13-3 in the American Midwest Conference (AMC) with the win. The Lynx fall to 13-9 on the season and 10-4 in conference play.

Neither team was able to gain separation in the first half as Columbia took a close 29-26 advantage into the halftime break by using an 8-2 run in the closing minutes. The Cougars shot just 38 percent from the field while holding the Lynx to a 33 percent clip. Columbia extended their lead to double digits to begin the second half, as they used a 9-2 run to make it 38-28 in the first three minutes. Over the next four minutes, Lindenwood-Belleville pulled within five at 42-37, but the Cougars stretch their lead back out and led 55-45 at the 6:58 mark. Both teams traded basket for basket from there, but back-to-back threes from Jackson Dubinski would give the Cougars a 63-47 lead with five minutes remaining in the game. Columbia maintained their double-digit lead over the remainder of the game, despite being outscored 17-13, on their way to the regular season sweep over the Lynx.

The Cougars shot 50 percent in the final period to finish at 44 percent on the night, led by Jobe Dillard with 14 points. Jeremy Nolen added 13 points and Dubinski posted 11 points on 4 of 7 shooting from the field and 3-5 from behind the arc. Tanner Sutton rounded out the scoring for the Cougars with 11 points on the night.  John Meyer pulled down a team-high nine rebounds while Chantel Stanciel handed out half of Columbia's assists with five total. Craig Anderson had 21 points to lead the Lynx, who were held to 37 percent from the floor on the night.

Columbia will hit the road for their next game on Thursday, February 12^th at conference foe Harris-Stowe State. The Cougars came out on top 96-50 in the first matchup between the two squads back on January 1^st. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 pm in St. Louis, Mo.