Columbia International University Athletics

The Columbia International University men's basketball team was back in action tonight after having a short break for Thanksgiving. The Rams welcomed the Eagles of Trinity Baptist College. If you were looking for a game full of fireworks, big shots, confusion, and intensity tonight was the night, The two teams never backed down from a challenge and took everything in stride to provide the crowd with a great game. In the end the Rams would pick up a key 76-71 overtime victory and sweep the season series against the Eagles.

The first possession went to the Rams and they converted as they worked the shot clock down Micah Banks was able to find a wide open Juraj Rovis for the layup. Just one minute later the Rams would take an early five point lead as Damian Hurta hit a three. Each team would struggle to settle into the game over a three minute span, but when the scoring began again it was the Eagles who went on a small 6-0 run to take their first lead of the game. However, their lead was short lived as the Rams, Kameron Robinson converted a layup on the Rams next possession. After that layup the Rams would score the next three points off a Banks free throw and a layup from Druw Rollins. The Eagles would trim the Rams lead to one on multiple occasions, but over the last five minute of the half the Rams would go on a 10-3 run to take a 27-17 lead into the break.

The second half was the half of offense as the Rams would start the half with a three from Banks, but after that the Eagles would score on their next three possessions to trim the Rams lead down to four. Rollins would get the Rams back on the board after he took a pass from Hurta, but the Eagles came back fighting as they regained the lead at the 11:55 mark. The two teams would go back and forth trading basket for basket, but the Rams went cold over a small stretch and the Eagles built and eight point lead with just under five minutes remaining. As the Rams defense came alive so did the Rams offense as they slowly chipped away at the Eagles lead and finally tied the game at 60 after a jumper in the paint by Rollins. The Eagles would take a timeout with seventeen seconds remaining. Just like earlier in the half the Rams defense stood strong and forced the Eagles into a bad shot and the two teams were heading to overtime.

Overtime started with major confusion. As the two teams got set for the tip the Rams were on the right side as the Eagles were on the left side. The Rams won the tip and raced down the court, but the referees counted it as a basket for the Eagles because they didn't see which way the teams were positioned. After talking with the scorers table and the coaches the referees decided that the Eagles received the two points on their mistake. The Rams offense would make sure to get those two points back while adding another. The Eagles would take an early, 64-63 lead in overtime, but a three by Tyrone Dantzler Jr. on the Rams next possession gave the lead back to the Rams. Dantzler would then make two free throws to give the Rams a 68-64 lead. The Eagles would score the games next five points and take a 69-68 lead with just two and a half minutes remaining. The Rams would call a timeout and after that timeout you could see the determination in the eyes of the players that they were not going to lose this game at home. After the timeout, Rollins took over and put the game away for the Rams. Rollings would score six of the eight points to close out the game and as the final horn sounded the Rams earned a hard fought victory over the Eagles, 76-71.


Columbia International shot 44.6% (29-65) from the field, while Trinity Baptist shot 40.6% (26-64)...Each team had a respectable three point percentage as the Rams shot 40% from beyond the arc and the Eagles shot 39.%...The Rams dominated the boards tonight as they held a 46-34 advantage..As a team the Rams dished out 17 assists...Druw Rollins recorded a double-double as he led the Rams with 19 points and 12 rebounds...Tyrone Dantzler Jr. had 11 points...Micah Banks had 11 points, seven assists, four rebounds...Damian Hurta rounded out the double digit scoring with 11 points...The Rams had 38 points in the paint tonight...Zach Norris led the Eagles with 18 points.

"Tonight was an exciting game and to get back in the win column is key for us heading into the weekend," said Head Coach Marshall Tague. "We have a couple tough games coming up this weekend against quality NCAA Division III members in NC Wesleyan and Greensboro College. Those will be hard games, but taking this winning feeling into those game will put us in the right direction."

Columbia International University will travel to NC Wesleyan this weekend to take part in the Roger Taylor Invitational. The Rams will play the host NC Wesleyan on Friday at 8 pm and have a quick turnaround on Saturday as they take on Greensboro College at 1 pm. Live stats will be provided for both games and the links can be found on ciurams.com.