Armstrong Atlantic Drops a Doubleheader to Columbus State

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Big First Half Run Sends Cougars To 70-46 Win Over Pirates

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Columbus State University used a 15-0 run in the first half to pull away from visiting Armstrong Atlantic State University and pick up a 70-46 Peach Belt Conference men's basketball victory on Thursday evening at the Lumpkin Center.

The loss snapped a modest three-game win streak for Armstrong (7-8,

3-4 PBC), while Columbus State (8-6, 3-2 PBC) continued its string of alternating wins and losses for its last seven contests.

A Stephen Davis layup with 8:19 left in the first half cut an early Columbus State lead to six, 22-16, but the Cougars embarked on a 15-0 run over the next four and a half minutes to jump out to a 37-18 lead.

Columbus State cruised into halftime with an 18-point lead, 39-21, then held Armstrong to just 28 percent shooting in the second half to claim the victory.

Armstrong shot a season-low 30.4 percent from the field (17-of-56), including hitting just 2-of-17 three-pointers for 11.8 percent.

Columbus State hit 46 percent from the field (29-of-63) while not making a three-point shot (0-for-13) in the win.

Senior Chris Vanlandingham and junior Aric Miller each led the Pirates with 13 points apiece. Vanlandingham inched closer to becoming the 18th player in Armstrong history with 1,000 points as he now has 979 career points after Thursday night's game.

Columbus State's Jarmarquis Steverson and Darius McKnight each led the Cougars on the night with 14 points.

Armstrong returns to action on Saturday, January 12th, visiting preseason Peach Belt Conference favorite Georgia Southwestern for a 3:30 p.m. matchup with the Hurricanes.

Cougars Collect 80-69 Win Over Pirates

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Columbus State University's women's basketball team held Armstrong Atlantic State University to just two points in a key first-half stretch, building a double-digit halftime lead and holding on for an 80-69 Peach Belt Conference contest on Thursday evening at the Lumpkin Center.

The Cougars (8-6, 3-2 PBC) won their third game out of their last four with the victory, while the Pirates (8-6, 3-4 PBC) suffered their second straight defeat.

A back-and-forth first half saw the Pirates within three of the host Cougars, 30-27, with 5:44 left until intermission on a Jazmin Walker layup, but Columbus State held Armstrong to just 1-of-7 shooting from the floor and forced five turnovers in stretching the lead to 10, 39-29, at the break.

In the second half, the Cougars were able to hold the Pirates at arms length, never letting Armstrong within eight points in securing the victory.

Dominique Gilbert led the host Cougars with a double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds, while Shan Beasley added 17 points. Letiecia Davenport collected 11 points and Asha Alexander chipped in 10 points as well for Columbus State.

Sophomore Mauri Wells led the Pirates with her 11th double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Demisha Mills added 14 points. D.D. Gipson notched 11 points while Dee Hayward added 10 points.

Armstrong will try to rebound on Saturday, January 14, traveling to Georgia Southwestern for a 1:30 p.m. Peach Belt Conference matchup with the Hurricanes.