The Columbia International University Men's Basketball team continued to make history today as they played in their first ever NCCAA National Championships game. The Rams took on the Trojans of Hannibal-LaGrange University in the opening game of the tournament. The Rams were down at the half, but put together a valiant comeback effort in the second half. Unfortunately, the Rams comeback fell just short as they lost 78-77.

1st Half Highlights:

• The Rams got the game started with the first two points by Jeff McIlwain
• The teams would trade baskets back and forth with the Trojans taking their first lead 7-6
• The Trojans would push their lead to 11-6 before a jumper from McIlwain brought the Rams back within three
• With ten minutes left to play in the half the Trojans raced out to a ten point lead
• Baskets within fifteen seconds of one another by Arthur Pearson and Eric Graham trimmed the Trojans lead to eight, 24-16
• Graham would continue scoring hitting back-to-back threes after a Trojans three to pull the Rams within seven
• A three by Corey Benton at the five minute mark trimmed the lead to four, 29-25 and forced the Trojans to take a timeout
• Coming out of the timeout the Rams got back within two on a jumper by Arthur Pearson
• The teams traded baskets over the next two minutes as the Rams never trailed by more than five
• The Trojans could out the half on a 7-0 run to lead 43-32 at the break

2nd Half Highlights:

• The Rams started off the second half with a layup by Benton
• Six straight points by Pearson and Benton helped the Rams pull within five just four minutes into the second half
• The Trojans would once again take a double digit lead with fifteen minutes to go in the half
• The Rams continued to battle back into the game and trailed by three, 60-57 with 9:45 left in the game
• With nine minutes left in the game the Rams tied the game at 60 as Benton found Pearson for a three
• The Trojans would score to take the lead back, but a three by Pearson gave the Rams their first lead since the beginning of the game, 63-62
• After a layup by Benton the Trojans would score back-to-back baskets to regain their lead
• The Trojans lead was short lived as Benton converted a jumper and a free throw
• The Trojans would regain the lead to see the Rams take it back on a McIlwain layup
• With twenty eight seconds left in the game the Trojans took the lead back and were up by three
• The Rams forced the Trojans to make their free throws to win the game as the Rams fell 78-77

Box Score Highlights:

• The Rams shot 39.5% (32-of-81) from the floor, but struggled from beyond the arc as they were 8-of-29...The Trojans shot 50.9% for the game and were 15-of-22...The Trojans won the battle in the paint as they had 36 points to the Rams 26 and had 41 rebounds, while the Rams had 38...The Rams forced the Trojans into 20 turnovers and scored 29 points off the turnovers...The Rams only committed seven turnovers the whole game...Corey Benton led the Rams with 23 points and chipped in with seven assists...Arthur Pearson had 22 points, three rebounds, and five assists...Eric Graham had 15 points off the bench...Jeff McIlwain just missed a double-double as he finished with 13 points and nine rebounds...Brady Smith led the Trojans with 22 points

Up Next: The Rams will be back on the court tomorrow morning at 8:30 am as they take on the loser of the Piedmont International versus Roberts Wesleyan game.