FLORENCE, S.C. – Senior forward Ransom Antoine converted three layups to key a game-ending 16-7 run by Columbus State University as the Cougars downed upset-minded Francis Marion University 78-67, Saturday afternoon (Feb. 18) in Peach Belt Conference men's action.
CSU (20-7, 14-4) had five players score in double figures: Ron Robinson and Quay Holloway 14 each, Will Davis 13, Antoine 12, and Justin Wilson 10.
Francis Marion (10-14, 5-12) was led by George Walker with 18 points, while senior forward Michael Carter recorded his first career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Guard Vony Rivers added 11 points to the Patriot attack.
Five points from Holloway fueled a 7-0 CSU run in the opening half that snapped a 20-20 deadlock. The Cougars would never trail again. Columbus State led 38-30 at halftime. FMU shot only 29.4 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes compared to 55.6 percent for CSU.
The Cougar lead would grow to 49-36 following two Jeff Tarver free throws with 15:53 remaining. The margin was eight points at 62-54 after CSU’s Wilson drained a three-pointer with 8:21 left. Back-to-back three-pointers by Rivers brought Francis Marion to within 62-60 with 6:22 on the clock.
Another three-pointer by Wilson ignited Columbus State’s 16-7 run that ended the game, and which included the three baskets by Antoine.
Columbus State shot 55.8 percent from the field for the game, the highest mark allowed by the Patriots in 119 games dating back to 2002.
Both squads will be on the road Monday night at 7:30 p.m., the Patriots at UNC Pembroke and CSU at Clayton State University.
2-18-06 4:10 pm at Florence, SC (Smith University Center)
COLUMBUS STATE 78, FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY 67
COLUMBUS STATE (20-7 , 14-4 PBC)
Robinson, Ron 4-9 4-4 14; Holloway, Quay 5-9 0-0 14; Davis, Will 5-8 3-4 13;
Antoine, Ransom 6-11 0-1 12; Wilson, Justin 3-3 1-2 10; Tarver, Jeff 3-4 2-3
8; Portis, Corris 1-3 0-0 3; Patterson, Nathan 1-2 0-2 2; Agee,
Phylip-Michael 1-2 0-0 2; Miller, Sean 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-52 10-16 78.
FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY (10-14 , 5-12 PBC)
Walker, George 6-15 5-10 18; Carter, Michael 3-14 6-8 13; Rivers, Vony 4-11
0-0 11; Dorsey, Raymond 4-4 0-0 8; Jenkins, Michael 3-12 0-0 8; Hamilton,
Marchello 3-6 0-0 6; Charles, Reinaldo 1-1 0-0 3; Coakley, Akeene 0-1 0-0 0;
Braxton, Paul 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-65 11-18 67.
Columbus State 38 Francis Marion 30
3-point goals-Columbus State 10-24 (Holloway, Quay 4-8; Wilson, Justin 3-3;
Robinson, Ron 2-6; Portis, Corris 1-2; Miller, Sean 0-1; Tarver, Jeff 0-1;
Antoine, Ransom 0-1; Davis, Will 0-2), Francis Marion University 8-31
(Rivers, Vony 3-10; Jenkins, Michael 2-9; Walker, George 1-3; Carter,
Michael 1-7; Charles, Reinaldo 1-1; Braxton, Paul 0-1). Fouled out--Columbus
State-Patterson, Nathan, Francis Marion University-None. Rebounds-Columbus
State 30 (Antoine, Ransom 6; Tarver, Jeff 6), Francis Marion University 38
(Carter, Michael 10). Assists-Columbus State 19 (Robinson, Ron 8), Francis
Marion University 14 (Jenkins, Michael 5). Total fouls-Columbus State 17,
Francis Marion University 16. A-500
