Box Score Henderson, Tenn. – Tonight the sixth ranked Columbia College men's basketball team was back in action when they traveled to Henderson, Tennessee to face the Freed-Hardeman University Lions in an AMC matchup. The Cougars defeated the Lions by a final score of 96-82 in overtime to improve to 11-1 on the season and 3-1 in conference play.
To start the game the Cougars quickly took a 5-2 lead. After five minutes of play the game was tied 12-12. Both teams exchanged buckets as the half progressed, neither team able to find any separation. With 10 minutes to go in the half the Lions tied it up again at 18. The Cougars went on a 5-0 run to take their largest lead of the half 25-20 with eight minutes left. However, the Lions went on a 5-0 run of their own to tie it right back at 25. Columbia could not shake off the Lions as they continued to battle back and forth. The game was tied several times throughout the half. To close out the half Columbia found themselves trailing 36-39 heading into the locker room. The Cougars shot 45 percent from the field, 36 percent from three, and 75 percent from the line in the first half.
Columbia was looking to steal some momentum coming out of the break. Freed-Hardeman was able to hold their lead as the second half progressed, although the Cougars were never far behind. A big 'and one' play by Nathan Biggs cut the Lions lead to 58-55 with 11 minutes left in the game. Columbia cut the lead to one multiple times over the next few possessions, but were struggling to stop the Lions from scoring. Freed went on an 8-3 run to extend their lead 72-66 with 5:30 to go. With a minute to go the Cougars were down by two. A huge basket from Biggs tied the game at 77 with 10 seconds left. Following the tying basket, Adam Mennemeyer took a charge to keep the Lions from scoring in the final seconds. Regulation would end with a score of 77-77 as they headed into overtime.
The Cougars held the momentum going into overtime. Columbia would strike first, taking their first lead since the first half of the game. The Cougars went on an 8-2 run to take the lead 85-79 with just under three minutes to go in overtime. Columbia controlled the overtime and outlasted the Lions as they won the game 96-82.
Nathan Biggs led the Cougars in scoring with 31 points. It was a milestone moment tonight for Jackson Dubinski as he surpassed his 1000th point recording 18 points in the contest. Dubinski also dished out six assists. In addition, another milestone moment for Nic Reynolds as he finished with 13 points putting his career total at 1,349 which surpasses Kyle Thoma for eighth all-time in program history. With his 13 points, Reynolds handed out eight assists and grabbed five rebounds. Adam Mennemeyer also chipped in 12 points and five rebounds, while Lucky Ogbomo pulled down a team high seven rebounds on the night.
The Cougars are back in action on Saturday, December 16th when they travel to Walnut Ridge, Arkansas to take on Williams Baptist (Ark.) College in an AMC matchup. The game is set to start at 3:00 p.m.
