Men's Basketball Drops Game to CIU

ATHENS, Tenn.- The men's basketball team returned to James L. Robb Gymnasium on Saturday for an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) game. The team played the Columbia International University Rams.

It was a tough start to the game as Columbia International scored the first six points of the game. Keshawn McPherson hit back-to-back three-point baskets to put the team on the board and make the score 9-6. Amauri Young gave the team a 10-9 lead after scoring back-to-back layups and a three-point play by Peyton West moved the lead to 13-12. The opponents took control of the game and three free throws by Stratton Lovvorn made the score 23-18 in favor of the Rams. A pair of free throws by Ty Hurst and a jumper by McPherson brought the team within two points of the lead but TWU was unable to pull closer as Columbia International led 35-29 at the halftime break.

Back-to-back possessions that saw McPherson and Young hit three-point baskets put the game in a 35-35 tie less than a minute into the second half. Columbia International broke the tie but Hurst put the game in a 40-40 tie with his three-point jump shot. Over the next several minutes, the game saw eight lead changes. Kariden Hardrick helped the team move the lead after the eighth change to 51-47 with a jump shot. A three-point play by Ty Runyan moved the score to 54-49 while Emmanuel Ndambi moved the lead to seven points with his basket making the score 56-49. The momentum did not stay with the Bulldogs though as the Rams came back to tie the score 63-63 with 2:56 remaining. Two more ties occurred over the remaining time but TWU was not able to turn the score in their favor, falling 70-67 to the visitors.

Young led the offense with 14 points while McPherson added 12 points. Kobe Pride led on the board with six rebounds.

The schedule takes the Bulldogs (1-4, 1-3 AAC) on the road for their next conference game. The team will make a short trip to Knoxville to take on Johnson University at 7:30 p.m., on Tuesday.