Columbia, Mo. – Tonight the seventh ranked Columbia College men's basketball team kicked off their season against the Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) University Tigers in the Cougars vs. Cancer Tip-Off Classic presented by Cost Cutters. The Cougars defeated the Tigers by a final score of 81-59 to start the season 1-0.
The Cougars came out in the opening half and were ready to play as they jumped to a 16-8 lead over the Tigers. Columbia's offense was clicking as they went on an 18-6 run to take the lead 38-21. The Tigers continued to battle, but struggled to keep up with Columbia as the Cougars led 46-28 going into the halftime break. Preston Whitfield (14) and Nic Reynolds (13) led the way for Columbia each recording double-digit points in the first half. The Cougars were 15 for 30 from the field and 3 for 8 from behind the arc in the first half.
The Tigers came out and scored the first five points of the second half before Columbia went on a 23-13 run to extend their lead 69-46. The Cougars remained in control of the game as they maintained a steady lead over the Tigers throughout the entirety of the second half.
Preston Whitfield (22), Nic Reynolds (18), Hank Mathews (12), and Nathan Biggs (11) all recorded double-digit points. In addition, Jackson Dubinski dished out five assists which moves him up to ninth place all-time in Columbia College history for assists and he sits only seven assists behind eighth place.
The Cougars are back in action tomorrow, November 4th, when they take on Culver-Stockton (Mo.) College in their final game of the Cougars vs. Cancer Tip-Off Classic presented by Cost Cutters. The game is set to begin at 7 p.m.
