COLUMBIA, S.C. - Four games into the 2023 season, CIU men's basketball finally made its way to the confines of the Moore Center as they hosted Bryan College in a rematch of last season's Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) title game. Just like the aforementioned contest, Saturday's game had a similar result, with CIU taking the 75-67 win over the Lions to move 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the AAC.
The Lions opened the game on an 8-0 run to put the Rams on their heels. However, CIU responded with a 10-0 run of their own, capped by a 3-pointer from Jalen Brinson (15:09) to give the Rams the upper hand, 12-10. Neither time team could find any breathing room as the Rams found themselves knotted at 30-30 (4:32) with the Lions. James Davis would break the tie on a layup, and then Brinson knocked down another three before the half to put the Rams up 35-30 at the break.
The Rams began to pull away in the second half as CIU extended the advantage to double-digits on a DiAnthony Heathock (58-46) triple at the 9:18 mark. CIU held a ten-point lead deep into the waning moments of the second half until a series of fouls and a late three from the Lions cut the deficit to 73-65 (:24). Brinson iced the game with two free throws and a last-second layup from the Lions resulted in the eight-point win for CIU.
Darrian Oates led the Rams in scoring with 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting in 36 minutes of action. Brinson was the only other Ram in double-figure scoring with 11 points and five assists. DiAnthony Heathcock secured 11 rebounds and six points, while freshman Johnny Whysong scored nine points off the bench.
CIU shot 45% from the field while knocking down nine threes. Defensively, the Rams forced 19 turnovers out of the Lions.
Hear from Coach Tony Stockman postgame:
Up Next: CIU heads to the coast to play the University of North Carolina - Wilmington in an NCAA Division exhibition game on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 7:00 p.m. EST.
