Marshall, Mo. - The Cougar men's basketball team won their third straight game to open the 2016-17 season on Tuesday night, defeating non-conference opponent Missouri Valley College by a score of 66-62. Columbia, ranked 6^th in the Preseason NAIA Top 25 Poll, improves to 3-0 on the year with the win.

The Cougars scored the first two buckets of the game and took an 11-point lead midway through the first half. However the host squad would go on a 15-4 run over the next eight minutes to tie the game at 24 with just a minute to go in the half. A steal and a quick basket by Jackson Dubinski with 20 seconds remaining in the frame gave Columbia a one point lead heading into the intermission.
 
The Cougars and Vikings played a close contest throughout the entire second half. Columbia gained a five point lead for a short time early in the second half but couldn't hold any significant advantage for long. Down the stretch it looked like the Cougars would run away with the win but the Vikings once again found their way back in the game, hitting back to back threes within 15 seconds of one another to make the game a 63-62 contest in favor of Columbia. Thankfully for the Cougars, Dubinski connected on three of four free throws down the stretch after missed baskets by the home team, and those baskets were the difference maker giving Columbia the win.

Columbia hit just 21 of 55 attempts (38 percent) from the field on the night compared to the Vikings who drained 44 percent of their attempts. Columbia was led by a 13 point performance from Nathan Biggs who also had seven rebounds and six assists. Jackson Dubinski and Hank Matthews also finished in double figures for the Cougars with 12 points apiece and Nic Reynolds chipped in ten.

The Cougars return to the court tomorrow night when they host Central Christian College of the Bible (Mo.). Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. on Bob Burchard Court in Southwell Complex.