For the second year in a row the Columbia International University Men's Basketball team is hosting the NCCAA South Region Championship. The Rams drew the same the opponent in the opening round in Piedmont International University. The first half looked like it might be the same outcome last year with the Bruins winning. but a big second half comeback saw the Rams win 75-69. With the win the Rams move onto the championship game to take on #1 Carver College.

1st Half Highlights:

• The first points of the game came on a layup by Jeff McIlwain
• After the first two points the Bruins would go on a 17-0 run over a six minute span to jump out in front 17-2
• A three by Brandon Doss stopped the Bruins run
• After a couple back-to-back baskets by Kyren Bolden and Eric Graham the Rams only trailed by nine
• However, with just six and a half minutes left in the half the Bruins would take a seventeen point lead on a three point play
• The Rams chipped away little by little pulling to within ten on a floater by Corey Benton
• The Bruins would once again take a sixteen point lead with just under three minutes left in the half
• As the buzzer sounded Doss would hit another three to bring the Rams within eleven, 39-28 at the half

2nd Half Highlights:

• Arthur Pearson and Corey Benton got the second half started to pull the Rams within nine
• Back-to-back layups by McIlwain saw the Rams trim the Bruins lead to five
• The Bruins would then go on a 10-0 run to take a 55-40 lead
• The Rams and Bruins would go back and forth, but with 8:46 left a three by Graham pulled the Rams within nine again
• McIlwain would score the games next six points to trim the deficit to three points
• Graham followed McIlwain with a layup in the paint as the Rams were only down by one 62-61
• The Bruins would come back and score the next five points
• Five threes by Tajae Anderson and a layup by McIlwain gave the Rams the lead back since the first points of the game
• The Rams then forced the Bruins into a turnover and the Rams made them pay as Benton hit the dagger three to put the Rams up 71-67
• The Bruins would hit two free throws, but on the next possession Benton would convert a three point play
• Anderson closed the game out with two free throws and the Rams came back to win 75-69

Box Score Highlights:

• The Rams shot 37.7% (26-of-69) from the field and were 7-of-22 from beyond the arch...The Rams were also 16-of-22 from the free throw line...The Bruins shot 42.9% for the game and were 5-of-18 from the three point line...The Rams stepped up their defense in the second half as the Bruins shot just 33.3% in the second half...The Rams also forced the Bruins into 25 turnovers and the Rams scored 26 points off them...The Bruins won the battle on the glass 47-36...The Rams limited their turnovers to 10 and had 16 assists...Jeff McIlwain led the way for the Rams with 26 points and 12 rebounds...Corey Benton had 18 points, four assists, and three rebounds...Tajae Anderson chipped in with nine points, five rebounds, and three assists...Eric Graham and Brandon Doss had seven and six points off the bench...Colton Bishop had 13 points for the Bruins

Up Next: The Rams will be back in action tomorrow when they take on #1 seed Carver College at 4 pm. The winner of the championship game will receive an automatic bid to the NCCAA National Tournament. Come out and support your Rams as they look to make history!