Columbia, Mo. – The No. 16-ranked Columbia College men's basketball team limited Hannibal-LaGrange University to 35.7 percent shooting as the Cougars earned a 69-63 victory in a battle for sole possession of first place in the American Midwest Conference (AMC) standings Tuesday at the Arena of Southwell Complex.
 
Columbia improved to 20-3 overall and 8-1 in the AMC, while Hannibal-LaGrange had its six-game win streak snapped and fell to 13-7 and 7-2 in the AMC.
 
Jemeal Goines recorded his seventh double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Caleb Jones (12 points), Adam Sausele (11 points, nine rebounds) and AJ Walker (10) also scored in double figures.
 
Columbia hit 22-of-36 from the foul line in the win, and had a 47-29 advantage on the glass.
 
A slow start for the second straight game saw the Cougars miss their first five shots from the field and trail 7-1 in the opening three minutes. Sausele's three-pointer at the 16:42 mark snapped the field-goal drought for Columbia.
 
Columbia's defense locked down and did not allow a point for more than five minutes, as a 9-0 run gave the Cougars a 13-9 advantage. Hannibal-LaGrange answered with a 10-0 run of its own, holding Columbia scoreless for 4:42 as the Cougars trailed 19-13 with 8:14 remaining in the first half.
 
The defense once again took over for Columbia, allowing just two field goals in the final seven minutes of play as the Cougars took a 34-29 lead into half. Sausele had eight points off the bench for Columbia, which forced seven turnovers and held a 22-11 rebounding advantage.
 
Johnny Anderson's lay-up off an in-bounds play gave the Cougars a 45-39 lead with 10:25 to play. Leading by one, Columbia went on a 9-0 run to extend the lead to double figures at 57-47 with 4:49 to play.
 
Davaughn Hueitt led the Trojans with 21 points, nine rebounds and six steals, while Josh Talton had 20 points.
 
The Cougars host Harris-Stowe State University on Saturday, February 7 at 3 p.m.
 
NOTES: Columbia has won 16-straight games against Hannibal-LaGrange and leads the all-time series 79-12 … The Cougars have won 20 or more games for the fifth-straight season under head coach Tomas Brock.