BALDWIN CITY, Kan. — The Columbia College men's basketball team (2-1) erased a 16-point first-half deficit and outscored Baker (2-1) 54-34 after halftime to win 78-72 on Sunday afternoon at the Wildcats' gym.
The Cougars return home on Wednesday to host Central Methodist at 7 p.m. in the Arena of Southwell Complex.
Baker controlled the first half, using a 16-3 stretch to build a 30-14 lead with 7:50 left before the break. The Cougars went 1-for-13 from three-point range in the half and trailed 38-24 at intermission.
Columbia flipped the game in the second half, shooting 60 percent (15-of-25) from the field, 4-of-5 from deep and 20-of-30 at the free-throw line. Drew Camacho scored 13 of his game-high 17 points after the break, going a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor.
Down 42-30 with 16:56 left, the Cougars chipped away with an and-one from Camacho, a three-point play by AJ Tillman and a Camacho three-pointer. Zac Goss tied it 47-47 with a fast-break jumper at 12:16, and after Logan Bishop's two free throws knotted it again at 49, Goss buried a three-pointer at 10:35 to give Columbia its first lead since the opening minute, 52-50.
Baker answered with a 7-0 burst to go up 57-52 at 9:21. Columbia responded with an 8-2 run, and Marcelous Phillips' three-point play at 6:32 put the Cougars ahead 60-59. Camacho followed with a steal and a fast-break three-pointer for a 63-59 lead.
After Baker tied it 63-63 at 5:18, Tillman made two free throws at 5:03 and Columbia never trailed again. Tillman added two more at 3:21, and Jeff Fleming scored the next four Cougar points, including a layup off a Bishop assist at 1:15 for a 73-65 lead, Columbia's largest of the day. Bishop sealed it by going 4-for-4 at the line in the final 19 seconds, finishing 6-for-6 from the stripe.
Fleming posted a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, nine of the boards coming in the second half. Phillips added 11 points, nine rebounds and two blocks, while Goss scored 10 off the bench.
The Cougars won the rebounding battle 46-40 and held Baker to 39.4 percent shooting in the second half while forcing nine turnovers. Columbia made 27 free throws to Baker's 12 and scored 24 bench points.
