Columbia, Mo. – Senior Collin Parker scored 20 points to become the eighth player in program history to score over 1,500 career points to lead the Columbia College men's basketball team to an 87-67 win over Mount Mercy University Saturday at the Arena of Southwell Complex.
 
Parker has scored 1,504 points in 99 career games, and is less than 100 points from entering the top-four all-time in scoring. He also moved into ninth on the career rebounding list with 588.
 
A 16-0 run by Columbia early in the second half put the game out of reach at 65-47 with 13:35 to play. The Cougars limited the Mustangs to 1-of-7 shooting with four turnovers to start the second half. Columbia outscored Mount Mercy 43-24 in the second half.
 
Seth Larson (16 points, seven rebounds), Justin Boyer (12 points) and Kai Steinman (12 points) also scored in double figures for the Cougars, who had 25 assists and dominated the paint 48-18. Columbia also shot a season-high 52.2 percent (35-67) from the field in the win.
 
Columbia picked up its first win of the season to improve to 1-2, while Mount Mercy fell to 1-2. The Cougars picked up career win No. 992 in program history, eight shy of 1,000.
 
Mount Mercy scored 10-straight points to take an early 13-7 lead, but Columbia bounced back with an 8-0 run to take the 15-13 advantage with 12:49 to play. Boyer hit back-to-back threes during the run.
 
The Cougars opened up a four-point advantage (35-31) with 4:10 to play after an 8-2 run begin four points each from Parker and Larson.
 
Columbia took the 44-43 lead after 20 minutes play in a half that had seven ties and 12 lead changes. Boyer and Parker had 10 points apiece for the Cougars, who shot 56.3 percent (18-32) from the field in the opening half.
 
Jaxson Fried (22 points, 11 rebounds), Jordan Willis (14 points) and Sterling Blakely (12 points) all scored in double figures for Mount Mercy, who was limited to 38.3 percent (23-60) shooting from the field in the loss.
 
The Cougars host NCAA Division III Webster University on Saturday, November 16 at 3 p.m.
 
NOTES: Columbia and Mount Mercy have split a pair of all-time meetings ... The game was tied seven times and had 14 lead changes ... Isaiah Holden had a game-high seven assists.