Koala Men Use 3-Pointers to Win Sixth Straight Game

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Columbia College Men's Basketball team tied a school record for most three-pointers made in a game as they ousted AAC foe Montreat College 90-83 on Friday evening from the Godbold Center to pick up their sixth straight win.

The win improves CC to 10-11 on the season and 7-5 in the conference and into a tie for 4th place. The seven conference wins also tie the most ever wins for the men's team.

The Koalas were led by senior guard Tae Burton's season-high 29 points on 9 of 13 shooting as he went 3 for 4 from deep. Burton also added a team-best eight rebounds, four assists, 2 steals and a block. Fellow senior guard Alileyon Ford also shot the ball well going 7 of 11 overall and 3 of 5 from three to tally 17 points with a team-high tying 8 rebounds, 3 assists and two steals.

Columbia had four Koalas each finish with three 3-pointers apiece as well in Burton, Ford, and guards Thomas Whitley and Austin Harrell. Junior wing Chandler O'Bannon added the other trey as the team was 13 of 27 while shooting 48% from behind the arc. Whitley finished with nine points on the night while Harrell added 15 points and six assists. O'Bannon notched 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and a block as well. Redshirt freshman forward Zach Smith also finished with six points and two rebounds.

Columbia shot nearly 51% overall from the floor on the night and almost 81% from the free-throw line while forcing MC into 15 turnovers en route to taking a 40-36 halftime edge. CC then scored 50 points in the second half, outscoring the Cavs by three. MC shot 46.5% overall and 43% from three as they made 12 threes also.

Columbia ran their 4-point halftime lead into a 12-point advantage at 52-40 at the 16-minute mark of the second half before extending their lead to the biggest of the night at 15 points as they went up 61-46 at the 11:30 mark of the half. Montreat (11-9, 7-6 AAC) would rally, however, going on a 27-15 run to trim the deficit all the way down to three points at 76-73 with 2:24 to play.

But the Koalas would make their free throws down the stretch to pull off the win even as MC whittled CC's lead down to four points with 15 seconds to play.

The Koalas will next remain home to finish off their long homestand as they host Truett McConnell next Wednesday evening at 8:00 pm.