Hannibal, Mo. – Cameron Vanleer's buzzer beating three-pointer gave the Columbia College men's basketball team their second-straight win and third win in four games. The Cougars defeated Hannibal-LaGrange, 68-66.
The two teams traded baskets in the first five minutes of the game, before HLGU extended the lead out to seven points (15-8) with 14:39 left in the first half. After the Trojans pushed the lead to double figures (26-16), the Cougars trimmed the lead down to one (27-26), but an 18-6 run by the Trojans gave them the biggest lead of the first half at 13 (45-32) heading into the locker room.
In the second-half, the teams split the first couple baskets. The Trojans led 49-35 with 17:59 left. That lead disappeared over the next five minutes, as the Cougars went on a 14-2 to cut the deficit down to two-point (51-49). The Trojans quickly answered with a quick 6-0 run to push the lead up to eight points (57-49) with 10:01 left to play.
Columbia continued to fight and regained the lead (63-61) after a pair of
Beau Washer free throws with 5:43 remaining. Bryce Stark knocked down a three-pointer for the Trojans giving them the 66-65 lead with under a minute to play.
Roger Guardiola missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 7-seconds remaining, which was rebounded by
Jack Fritsche, who passed to
Cole Gerken, who passed to
Cameron Vanleer who drained the game-winning three-pointer as time expired, giving the Cougars the win.
By the Numbers:
36-21 – Columbia outscored Hannibal-LaGrange by 15 in the second half.
3 – Three Cougars scored in double figures
23-12 – The Trojans held a slight advantage in bench points
Columbia College Leaders:
Scoring Leader –
Tony Burks (23)
Rebound Leader –
Cameron Vanleer (9)
Assist Leader –
Harrison Vickers/
Cole Gerken (3)
Hannibal-LaGrange Leaders:
Scoring Leader – Logan Dorethy (17)
Rebound Leader – Bryce Stark (6)
Assist Leader – Roger Guardiola (5)
Up Next:
The Cougars play Harris-Stowe on Saturday at 3:00 PM in the Arena of Southwell Complex. No spectators will be allowed in the game.
