Parker and Moore Lift Cougars in AMC Quarterfinals

Columbia, Mo. – Collin Parker scored 25 points and Trever Moore added a career-high 21 to lead the No. 2 seed Columbia College men’s basketball team to a 96-80 victory over No. 7 seed Harris-Stowe State University Thursday in the quarterfinals of the 2024 American Midwest Conference Tournament at the Arena of Southwell Complex.
 
Columbia won its eighth-straight game to improve to 24-5, while Harris-Stowe lost its eighth-straight contest and ended its season with a 6-23 record. The Cougars host No. 3 seed Missouri Baptist University in the AMC semifinals on Saturday, March 2 at 1 p.m.
 
Marlon Allen recorded his seventh double-double of the year with 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Trendon Tisdale (12) and Carson Parker (10) also scored in double figures. The Cougars dominated the glass (54-29) and bench points (37-2), and hit 28-of-34 (82.4 percent) from the foul line.
 
Harris-Stowe hit 4-of-5 from the field in the opening 2:30 and held a 10-9 lead, and took its largest lead of the game at 15-9. The Cougars got back into the game with a 14-2 run, including 10-straight points, to gain a 23-17 advantage.
 
Tommy Hafer’s three pushed the Cougar lead to 28-19, and then a three-pointer by Moore got the lead up to double figures (38-28) with 8:27 left before half.
 
Columbia took a 57-46 lead to the locker room after shooting 48.8 percent (20-41) from the field and hit 12-of-15 from the free-throw line. Moore led the Cougars with 14 points (5-5 FT), while Collin Parker (12) and Carson Parker (10, 4-4 FG) also scored in double figures.
 
The Cougars extended the lead to 72-56 with 12:25 to play on three-straight points by Carson Parker. The Hornets got the lead down to 10 (81-71) with 8:09 to play, but that would be as close as they would get. Columbia was limited to one field goal in the final 6:46 of play.  
 
Patrick Evans (33 points), Bennie Amos (27 ) and Seth Cargois (13) scored in double figures for Harris-Stowe, which shot 44.4 percent (32-72) from the field in the loss.
 
NOTES: Columbia has won seven-straight meetings against Harris-Stowe and leads the all-time series 68-7 … The Cougars have won 24 wins for the first time since 2018 … Collin Parker moved into ninth place in scoring (1,404) and 13th in rebounding (542) … The Cougars are 15-1 at home … Columbia had 20 or more assists for the fifth time this season.