O'Bannon's Game-winning Dunk Lifts Koalas to AAC Road Win

WALESKA, Ga. - The Columbia College men's basketball team used a game-winning dunk from junior wing Chandler O'Bannon to lift the Koalas to a comeback win, 68-67 on the road at Reinhardt University Saturday afternoon.

The Koalas improve to 7-11 overall and 4-5 in the conference with their third straight win and sit in a tie for 8th place in the AAC. O'Bannon led CC with an impressive double-double of 21 points and 13 rebounds.

Redshirt freshman forward Zach Smith was also in double-figure scoring finishing with 10 points and 3 rebounds before fouling out while guards Tae Burton and Austin Harrell each scored nine points apiece as well. Harrell led with three 3-pointers along with adding three rebounds and three assists while Burton added three boards, an assist and a steal.

Senior guard Alileyon Ford also chipped in 8 points and a team-high four assists off the bench while freshman forward Jamison McKenzie scored 8 points with a steal off the bench as well.

Reinhardt fell to 5-11 overall and 4-5 in the league as they led 33-30 at halftime. Columbia shot 48% overall and nearly 28 percent from three while also going 13 of 15 from the free-throw line, whereas RU shot 45% but only 25% from three. 

RU got out to an early five-point second half lead at 40-35 before the Koalas went on a 13-0 run to take a 48-40 lead with 11:30 to play, their largest lead of the game. The Eagles then went up 67-63 with just under 90 seconds to play before Columbia ended the game on a 5-0 run. It included a 3-pointer from Harrell with a minute to play and the game-winning dunk from O'Bannon at the 5-second mark.

The Koalas will next be in action on Wednesday evening when they return home to host rival Spartanburg Methodist at 8:00 pm from the Godbold Center.

O'Bannon pictured below: