Cougars Outlast Hannibal-LaGrange on the Road

Hannibal, Mo. – The Columbia College men’s basketball team had three players score in double figures in an 81-53 win at Hannibal-LaGrange University Thursday at the Mabee Sports Complex in Hannibal, Mo.
 
Columbia won its fifth-straight game to improve to 13-4 (4-1 AMC), while Hannibal-LaGrange dropped its fourth-consecutive game and is 4-11 (1-5 AMC). The Cougars remain in a tie for second place in the American Midwest Conference (AMC) standings.
 
Collin Parker recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Isaiah Holden tied a career high with 14 points and Marlon Allen added 11 points and six rebounds.
 
The Cougars limited Hannibal-LaGrange to 35.1 percent (20-57) shooting from the field and outrebounded the Trojans 40-24. Columbia also had a 17-0 advantage in second-chance points.
 
The Cougars jumped in front 14-5 in the opening 9:28 as Collin Parker nailed a pair of three-pointers. A jumper by Holden gave the Cougars their first double-digit lead (21-11) with 7:22 to play before half.
 
Columbia went on an 8-0 run late in the first half to push the lead to 35-19 with 2:25 before half. The Cougars extended the run to 15-2 over the final 5:22 of the half and led 40-21 at the break. Allen scored 11 points in the first half to lead Columbia, who outscored HLG 20-2 in the paint.
 
The Cougars scored the first seven points of the second half to build a 47-21 advantage with 17:26 to play. 
 
Holden scored six-straight points as part of an 8-0 run as the lead grew to 57-25, and then a three-pointer by Trendon Tisdale pushed the advantage to 63-30 with 9:19 left.
 
Nick Gutierrez led Hannibal-LaGrange with 10 points off the bench.
 
The Cougars travel to William Woods University on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 3 p.m.
 
NOTES: Columbia has won 11-straight meetings against Hannibal-LaGrange and leads the all-time series 74-12.