Cougars Hold on for Win over Missouri Baptist

Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia College men’s basketball team hit four of its last five field-goal attempts to outscore visiting Missouri Baptist University 9-4 in the final three minutes as the Cougars held on for a 72-67 win Thursday at the Arena of Southwell Complex.
 
Columbia won its second-straight game to improve to 18-6 (8-2 AMC), while Missouri Baptist dropped its third-straight contest and dropped to 14-9 (5-4 AMC). 
 
Collin Parker led the Cougars with 16 points, while Harrison Vickers (13), Isaiah Holden (10 points, 8 assists) and Carson Parker (10) also scored in double figures. The Cougars shot 40.9 percent (27-66) from the field, including 53.1 percent (17-32) in the second half.
 
The Cougars started 1-of-7 from the field and trailed 5-2 early on, but a bucket by Carson Parker tied the contest at 8-8. Columbia went on a 11-0 run to take a 19-10 lead with 9:16 to play before half following a three-pointer and a bucket by Vickers.
 
Columbia did not record a field goal for over five minutes and the Spartans responded with a 14-1 run to take a 29-24 lead with less than two minutes to play before half. 
 
Missouri Baptist led 31-29 at half as the Cougars were limited to 29.4 percent (10-34) shooting from the field, including 2-of-11 from three-point range. Trever Moore had six points to lead Columbia.
 
The Cougars went on an 8-0 run to gain the 39-32 advantage, and a bucket by Carson Parker pushed the lead to 58-50 with 9:13 to play.
 
An 8-1 run by Missouri Baptist tied the score at 61-61 with less than five minutes to play, and the Spartans knotted the contest again (63-63) with 3:38 to play. Leading by two with less than a minute to play, Marlon Allen hit a pair of lay-ups to seal the victory. 
 
Connor Redrow (15 points, 10 rebounds), Nico Hill (12 points, 8 rebounds) and Evan Palmquist (10 points) scored in double figures for Missouri Baptist, who outrebounded Columbia 48-38.
 
The Cougars return to action on Saturday, Feb. 10 at the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis. Game time is set for 3 p.m.
 
NOTES: Columbia and Missouri Baptist met for the 85th time in school history, with the Cougars holding a 53-32 advantage … Columbia is 13-1 at home this season … The eight assists for Holden tied a career high.