Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia College men's basketball team had five players score in double figures as the Cougars opened the 2025-26 season with a 134-66 victory over Central Christian of the Bible Thursday at the Arena of Southwell Complex. 
 
The 134 points scored were the second most in school history.
 
Columbia improved to 1-0 with the win, while Central Christian of the Bible played the game as an exhibition.
 
Caleb Jones scored a career-high 23 points, while Adam Sausele (18 points), Jemeal Goines (16 points, 13 rebounds), Johnny Anderson (14 points) and Marcelous Phillips (11 points) also scored in double figures. Max Rieger added nine points and a team-high six assists.
 
The Cougars shot 54.3 percent (51-94) from the field and hit 13 three-pointers in the win. Columbia outrebounded Central Christian 63-31 and had a 38-7 advantage in second-chance points. 
 
"I liked our effort in the first half. Our guys shared the ball on the offense end and were trying to defend together," said head coach Tomas Brock.
 
The Cougars hit their first three shots of the season, including a pair of three-pointers, to jump in front 8-3 in the open 2:16. Sausele scored seven points to highlight a 17-0 run as the lead grew to double figures at 22-3 with 14:05 to play.
 
The Saints answered with a 9-0 run, but Columbia followed with a 12-0 run of its own as Phillips had seven points to push the advantage to 41-17.
 
Columbia led 72-35 at the break after shooting 53.1 percent from the field with nine three-pointers and hit 11-of-11 from the free-throw line. Jones and Sausele led the Cougars with 15 points each.
 
A 7-0 run by Columbia to open the second half extended the lead to 79-35, and then a pair of free-throws by Jones pushed the Cougars over the century mark with 11:11 to play.
 
Edris Hamilton led Central Christian College with 17 points, while Amari Elam added 15 points as the Saints had 27 turnovers and hit just 5-of-11 from the free-throw line.
 
The Cougars host NCAA Division III Westminster College on Tuesday, October 28 at 7 p.m.
 
NOTES: Columbia has won 42-straight meetings and the lead the all-time series 42-1 ... The Cougars have won five of their last six season openers.