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Columbia International University Athletics

Arthur_Bryan
77
Winner Columbia International (S CIU 14-7, 11-7 AAC
70
Union (Ky.) Union 17-8, 14-5 AAC
Winner
Columbia International (S CIU
14-7, 11-7 AAC
77
Final
70
Union (Ky.) Union
17-8, 14-5 AAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Columbia International (S CIU 37 40 77
Union (Ky.) Union 32 38 70

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | gfrierson

Men's Basketball Defeats the #19 Union Bulldogs to Sweep Season Series

BARBOURVILLE, Ky – The CIU men's basketball team took on #19 Union College for the second time this season after defeating the then #21 Bulldogs back in December. CIU entered the contest 10-7 in the AAC while Union entered atop the AAC standings at 14-4 in the conference. Despite being unranked, the Rams would once again pull away from the Bulldogs and pick up their first win over a ranked opponent on the road, 77-70.

How It Happened

First Half CIU 37 UC 32: The Rams jumped out on top of the Bulldogs behind Jeff McIlwain and freshman Skyler McKinney. After a McIlwain basket inside and a McKinney three-pointer, the Rams would take their largest lead of the half at 13-6. The Bulldogs would claw back to take a 23-21 advantage with 8:00 minutes remaining. Outside shooting from Arthur Pearson and a two-pointer from Corey Benton would help CIU regain the lead at halftime 37-32.

Second Half CIU 77 UC 70: Scores from McIlwain and McKinney would again start the half and help push the Rams lead to 12-points, 45-33. Elijah Spalding and Pearson would then come alive to help keep CIU ahead under the 10:00 minute mark. The Bulldogs would threaten multiple times, but a dunk from Spalding and an acrobatic spinning layup from Pearson would seal the deal for the Rams. CIU would go on to sweep the season series with Union with a 77-70 win.

Game Notes

  • Freshman Skyler McKinney led the Rams in scoring with 22 points on 7-11 shooting.
  • Jeff McIlwain picked up his seventh double-double on the year with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
  • Corey Benton and Arthur Pearson combined for 25 points, and Benton posted 9 rebounds.
  • CIU scored 47 points in the paint for the game while shooting almost 50% from the field in the second half.

What Coach Stockman is saying:

"I am proud of our guys. They locked in on defense and made it hard for them to get their first option. We wanted to hold them below 75, and we held them to 70. 

On the offensive end, we did a great job of executing against the zone and their switching defense. 

I think sweeping the six-time defending champs, in year two of our program, is something we should be excited about. Hopefully, we can build off of it, and can continue to grow a competitive and winning culture for our team. "

Up Next:

CIU will take on Reinhardt University for the first time this season on Monday, February 3rd. 

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