Columbus State uses fast start to rout USC Aiken

The Columbus State men turned up the defensive pressure and routed USC Aiken 74-49 on Saturday afternoon at the Lumpkin Center.

The Cougars (8-1, 2-0 Peach Belt Conference) started the game on a 22-4 run and were never really threatened.

"I thought we played very well on the defensive side of the floor today," CSU coach Robert Moore said. "We were swarming to the ball, and that makes it difficult to hit shots."

The Cougars led 11-2 just over five minutes into the game, then went on an 11-0 run to build the lead to 18, 22-4. The margin expanded to 21, 32-11, with 5:35 left before intermission.

Shortly after the half, Darren Daniel hit a 3-pointer to give CSU a 42-19 lead.

The Pacers made their only run of the game, outscoring CSU 15-3 to pull within 11, 45-34.

Aiken hung around until CSU

went on a 15-2 run to build the lead to 25, 70-45, with 3:13 left in the game.

Brent Jackson led the Cougars with a game-high 20 points on 7-for-9 shooting, including 3-for-3 from 3-point range.

Matthias Sigurdarson was the only other CSU player with double-figure points with a season-high 10.

DeMarcus McVay had 11 rebounds to go along with his eight points and two blocks. Arben Camaj had five points and three blocks.

Glen Campbell led Aiken with 11 points.

Columbus State will be on the road for its next game on Jan. 2 at Francis Marion.

USC AIKEN (2-7, 0-2 PBC)

Glen Campbell 4-6 0-0 11; Arbry Butler 3-10 3-4 9; Keith Belfield 4-21 1-2 9; Jordan Foster 3-5 0-0 7; Hendrix Emu 2-5 0-0 6; Andrew Glover 1-3 0-0 3; Kyle Buffkin 1-2 0-0 2; Gavin Stephenson 1-5 0-0 2; Albert Miller III 0-2 0-0 0; David Belfield 0-0 0-0 0; Jevon Patton 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 19-62 4-6 49.

COLUMBUS STATE (8-1, 2-0 PBC)

Brent Jackson 7-9 3-3 20; Matthias Sigurdarson 3-6 3-3 10; Brentine Taylor 4-8 1-2 9; DeMarcus McVay 4-7 0-0 8; Darren Daniel 3-5 0-0 7; JaCori Payne 3-9 0-0 7; Cam Baker 2-11 2-4 6; Arben Camaj 2-6 0-0 5; Denard Williams 1-1 0-0 2; Markis Boyd 0-0 0-0 0; Marcus Dixon 0-1 0-0 0; Jamal McKee 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-63 9-12 74.

Halftime--Columbus State 37-16. 3-point goals--USC Aiken 7-27 (Glen Campbell 3-4; Hendrix Emu 2-3; Jordan Foster 1-2; Andrew Glover 1-3; Gavin Stephenson 0-2; Albert Miller III 0-2; Jevon Patton 0-2; Keith Belfield 0-9), Columbus State 7-17 (Brent Jackson 3-3; JaCori Payne 1-2; Arben Camaj 1-4; Darren Daniel 1-2; Matthias Sigurdarson 1-4; Cam Baker 0-2). Fouled out--USC Aiken-None, Columbus State-None. Rebounds--USC Aiken 30 (Arbry Butler 14), Columbus State 49 (DeMarcus McVay 11). Assists--USC Aiken 7 (Keith Belfield 3), Columbus State 12 (Cam Baker 4). Total fouls--USC Aiken 14, Columbus State 9. Technical fouls--USC Aiken-None, Columbus State-None. A-247

This story was originally published December 19, 2015 at 8:37 PM with the headline "Columbus State uses fast start to rout USC Aiken ."