Columbia, Mo. - Today the Columbia College men's basketball team competed against the No. 20 ranked Park (Mo.) University Pirates in an AMC matchup. The Cougars defeated the Pirates with a final score of 60-55, improving their season to 5-6, and 3-2 in conference play.

The score tied five times and had six lead changes throughout the first 20 minutes. Columbia stepped on the gas midway through with a 16-4 run to extend the Cougars lead to 11 going into the half.

Columbia continued their momentum in the second half, staying one-step ahead of the Pirates. Park scored 28 points in the half compared to the Cougars 21 but Columbia's first half lead was enough to come away with the win.

Key Moment
Columbia's bench scored 16 more points than the Park bench,.
 
By The Numbers.
20- Cougar field goal points
37-34- Park rebounds compared to Columbia rebounds
15- Pirate turnovers resulted in nine Columbia points
9- Cougar blocks

Columbia College Leaders
Scoring Leader –  Thibault Benabid (18)
Rebounding Leader – Thibault Benabid (15)
Assist Leader – Braden Wendel (4)
 
Park University Leaders
Scoring Leader –  Cory Reeves  (10)
Rebounding Leader – Ernest Myles III (9)
Assist Leader – Cory Reeves (5)
 
Up Next
The Cougars are back on the court on Saturday, December 19 when they travel to Walnut Ridge, Arkansas to take on the William Baptist (Ark.) University Eagles in an AMC matchup. Tip-off is set to begin at 7:30 p.m.