Columbia, Mo. – The fourth-ranked Columbia Cougar men's basketball team added another victory to their resume tonight, defeating third-ranked Freed-Hardeman University in an American Midwest Conference (AMC) tilt by a final score of 101-94.  The win brings the Cougars to 15-1 overall and 8-0 in conference play while the Lions move to 12-4 on the season and 6-2 versus league foes.

Although the Lions took a quick lead to start the contest they weren't able to grab enough of an advantage to hold off the Cougars for long. Freed-Hardeman's Orlando Bass was a one-man scoring machine for the Lions early with 13 of their first 18 points in the contest but two fouls in the first ten minutes of play had Bass on the bench which gave Columbia the opportunity to pull ahead, and they did.  The Cougars got their first lead of the game at 19-18 but it was six-straight points by sophomore Jackson Dubinski late in the half that gave the host squad the momentum heading into the break with a 46-32 lead. 

The Cougars shot 51 percent from the field in the first frame and capitalized on Freed-Hardeman's 13 turnovers, amounting to 22 points for Columbia.  The Lions shot just 40 percent in the first half but drained eight three-pointers.

Columbia maintained control in the second frame despite being outscored by the visitors.  They never trailed throughout the final twenty minutes but were pushed every step of the way. With two minutes remaining the Cougars held a ten point lead. Freed-Hardeman used an offensive and defensive line-up the rest of the way, subbing all five players every trip down the floor and making the wholesale substitution 11 times. They were forced to foul to stop the clock and they turned up the defensive pressure on the Cougars.  But Columbia held their ground and their lead on the way to another victory.

The Cougars' bench was critical in the contest, coming away with a 56-18 advantage.

Nine Cougars scored in the contest, led by Chantel Stanciel with 22 points and eight assists. Nic Reynolds chipped in 20 points and Dubinski and Zach Rockers had 18 and 14 points, respectively. 

Bass finished with a game high 28 for Freed-Hardeman.

The Cougars are back on Bob Burchard Court this Saturday, January 9^th when they host the Eagles of Williams Baptist College. Game time is slated for 4:00 p.m.