Columbia International University Athletics

It's not very often that teams face each other two games in a row, but that is what happened tonight as the Columbia International University men's basketball team took on Toccoa Falls College. The game was a battle for the full forty minutes just like the game this past Saturday between the two teams. The Rams were looking to start a small winning streak and the Screaming Eagles were looking to crack the win column. The Rams won the battle with a 61-52 final score.

Over the first five minutes of the half the two teams looked a little sluggish as they both scored just four points. At the 14:45 mark the Rams would take their first lead of the game, 6-4, thanks to a layup from Micah Banks. 

However, on the Screaming Eagles next possession they would retake the lead. The Rams would take the lead back from the Screaming Eagles, but the teams would be tied at eight with 13:22 left in the half. Over the next minute Banks and Damarcus Gay would score four points for the Rams and give them the lead. After a Screaming Eagles basket the Rams would go on a 5-0 run to push their lead to seven.

After the Rams pushed the lead to seven the Screaming Eagles cut it back to two, but the Rams would once again run it back to five. The Rams would score one more point in the half and the Screaming Eagles would hot a couple threes. The Rams would take a slim 22-21 lead into the break.

The Rams would come out of the half and take a four point lead after three straight points from Damarcus Gay. The two teams would battle as it was a back and forth battle. At one point the Rams would take a good lead, but the Screaming Eagles would cut the Rams lead.

Finally, from the 11:08 mark to the 8:05 mark the Rams would go on an 8-0 run to take their first double digit lead of the game. The Rams would continue to run their lead higher and higher throughout the rest of the half, but the Screaming Eagles kept it close. However, the Rams would keep the lead and go on to win 61-52.

Columbia International shot 40.3% (25-of-62) from the field and were 7-of-9 from the free throw line...Toccoa Falls shot 30.9% (17-of-55) for the game and were 5-of-20 from the three point line...The Rams won the rebounding battle as they had 42 compared to the Screaming Eagles 38...Damarcus Gay had another double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds...Gabe Kirk had a double-double as well with 10 points and 10 rebounds...Micah Banks had a solid game with 11 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists...Luke Baham led the Screaming Eagles with 18.

Columbia International will be back in action on Friday as they take part in the MLK Classic hosted by Johnson and Wales Charlotte. The Rams will take on Berkeley College at 5:30 pm on Friday.