Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia College men's basketball team could not overcome a 13-point halftime deficit as the Cougars suffered a 77-68 loss to Central Methodist University Wednesday at the Arena of Southwell Complex.
 
Central Methodist improved to 3-0 with the win, while Columbia fell to 0-2.
 
Collin Parker recorded a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds, while Seth Larson added 17 points and eight rebounds and Isaiah Holden had 10 points and five assists. Columbia struggled from beyond the arc hitting just 7-of-33.
 
Central Methodist jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the opening 1:24. Columbia got back into the contest with an 8-2 run behind back-to-back threes by Kai Steinman and Holden to trim the lead to one (15-14).
 
Larson scored three-straight buckets to keep it close (21-20), but the Cougars could not contain Bol Tong. He drilled his fifth three-pointer of the half to give CMU the 32-24 lead.
 
Central Methodist led 49-36 at halftime behind 24 points from Tong on six threes. Larson had 12 points to lead Columbia, while Collin Parked added 10.
 
Central Methodist extended its lead to 56-39 after a 7-0 run early in the second half. 
 
A 13-3 run by Columbia trimmed the advantage to 59-52 with 9:09 left as the Cougars limited Central Methodist to 1-of-11 shooting. A three by Tommy Hafer trimmed the lead to 60-56 with 7:36 to play, but that would be as close as Columbia would get.
 
Tong scored 24 of his game-high 27 points in the first half and added nine rebounds, while Brandon Tchouya chipped in with 12 points. The Eagles hit 11 threes in the win and had a 15-0 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
The Cougars host Mount Mercy University on Saturday, November 9 at 3 p.m.
 
NOTES: Columbia lead the all-time series with Central Methodist 34-20 ... The Cougars had a 7-3 advantage in blocks.