Baker, Jackson lead Columbus State to season-opening victory

Cam Baker (23) and Brent Jackson (20) combined for 43 points to lead Columbus State to a 91-72 victory over Middle Georgia State on Saturday afternoon at the Lumpkin Center.

The game was the season-opener for the Cougars.

CSU shot a blistering 57.6 percent from the floor (34-of-59), and 66.7 percent from 3-point range (12-of-18).

Baker made 80 percent of his shots from the field (8-of-10) and 3-point range (4-of-5). Jackson was nearly as good, making 63.6 percent from the floor (7-of-11) and 75 percent from 3-point range (3-of-4).

Brentine Taylor and JaCori Payne added 15 points apiece. Arben Camaj had 12. Camaj finished with a double-double with 11 rebounds.

Baker had six assists. DeMarcus McVay and Camaj had three blocked shots apiece.

Seth Coleman led Middle Georgia with 18 points. Joseph Fogg added 13.

CSU held Middle Georgia to 35.1 percent shooting from the floor (27-of-77).

After CSU scored the first three points on a long jumper from Payne, Middle Georgia scored the next eight points.

It was all CSU from that point on as the Cougars built as much as a 26-point lead in the first half, 50-24, with 4:05 left.

The largest lead of the game was 29, 74-45, with 10:30 left in the second half.

CSU hosts the Carver Cougars on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

MIDDLE GEORGIA ST. (1-1)

Seth Coleman 7-17 3-5 18; Joseph Fogg 6-12 0-0 13; Cory Reid 3-6 2-2 8; Ryan Wilkins 2-9 2-2 7; Chandler Watts 2-3 0-0 5; Brandon Ingleton 2-3 0-1 4; Marques Hinton 1-5 2-4 4; Tevion Pope 1-3 1-1 3; Jacob Gibson 0-4 3-4 3; Pat Edmonds 1-4 0-0 3; Kieston Standfield 1-6 0-0 2; Condell Woodson 1-3 0-0 2; Primetime Hamilton 0-0 0-0 0; Januari Smith 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 27-77 13-19 72.

COLUMBUS STATE (1-0)

Cam Baker 8-10 4-5 23; Brent Jackson 7-11 3-4 20; JaCori Payne 5-7 2-2 15; Brentine Taylor 6-11 3-4 15; Arben Camaj 5-8 0-0 12; DeMarcus McVay 2-4 0-2 4; Darren Daniel 1-3 0-1 2; Markis Boyd 0-0 0-0 0; Marcus Dixon 0-0 0-0 0; Jamal McKee 0-1 0-0 0; Matthias Sigurdarson 0-3 0-0 0; Demetres Abrams 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 34-59 12-18 91.

Halftime--Columbus State 53-37. 3-point goals--Middle Georgia St. 5-22 (Ryan Wilkins 1-4; Pat Edmonds 1-4; Joseph Fogg 1-3; Chandler Watts 1-2; Seth Coleman 1-5; Jacob Gibson 0-2; Condell Woodson 0-2), Columbus State 11-23 (JaCori Payne 3-4; Brent Jackson 3-6; Cam Baker 3-4; Arben Camaj 2-5; Jamal McKee 0-1; Matthias Sigurdarson 0-1; Demetres Abrams 0-1; Darren Daniel 0-1). Fouled out--Middle Georgia St.-Jacob Gibson, Columbus State-None. Rebounds--Middle Georgia St. 41 (Seth Coleman 11), Columbus State 42 (Arben Camaj 11). Assists--Middle Georgia St. 11 (Jacob Gibson 4), Columbus State 15 (Cam Baker 6). Total fouls--Middle Georgia St. 17, Columbus State 23. Technical fouls--Middle Georgia St.-None, Columbus State-None. A-273

This story was originally published November 14, 2015 at 6:47 PM with the headline "Baker, Jackson lead Columbus State to season-opening victory ."