#MustangsWin! #17 CBC Uses Balanced Scoring to Beat Columbia!

Erik Holth, CBC Sports Information Director

            Columbia, Mo. – Playing on the road for the first time since Dec. 14, 2024, #17 Central Baptist College men's basketball took on the Cougars of Columbia College tonight in an American Midwest Conference contest inside the Arena of Southwell Complex. #17 CBC (14-3, 8-0 AMC) had six players finish in double figures scoring to hold off CC (12-6, 5-2 AMC) 85-81.

            Jonas Carlisle led the way in scoring, and he was joined in double figures by Wade Williams, Gabe Johnson, Brian Alexander, Sage Borbon and Devin Foster. An extremely even game saw CBC take advantage at the three-point line, doubling Columbia's total to provide the difference in the contest.

GAME FLOW

            The teams traded the lead five times in the first five minutes and saw the first tie of the game at 9-9 at the 15:06 mark in the first half. Williams would follow that with a three on the next possession to put CBC up 12-9. The game would see two more ties, one at 16 with 11:19 left in the first half and the last at 18 with 10:38 left in the first half. A pair of free throws with 10:07 before the break put CBC down 20-18 before Borbon put in a three 10 seconds later to put the Mustangs back in front. Columbia retook the lead on the ensuing possession before Alexander canned a three at the 9:31 mark to put the Mustangs up 24-22. Alexander's bucket began an 8-2 run over the next 2:57 that saw CBC lead by their largest margin, 32-24, with 6:34 until half. From then on, every time Columbia got close, the Mustangs made a basket, leading 40-37 at the half and never trailing in the second half, despite seeing their lead dwindle to one, 74-73, with 4:29 to play.

            Neither team would score again until Alexander made a layup with just under three minutes to go and Williams followed with a layup with 1:13 left to make it 78-73. CBC would then seal the game at the free throw line, going 7-8 over the final 33 seconds to beat CC on their floor for the second straight season.

MUSTANG NOTES

• Head coach Sam Kohnke earned his 78^th win at the helm of CBC, putting him two away from tying Josh Austin for the all-time lead
• CBC beat Columbia for the 10^th time in 22 meetings all-time
• The Mustangs are now 13-1 when leading at the break this season
• Carlisle scored 18 points and finished one rebound shy of a double-double
• Johnson had 17 points (including 13 in the first half) and handed out four assists
• Williams had 14 points
• Alexander chipped in 11 off the bench
• Borbon added 10 as did Foster off the bench
• CBC shot 46 percent from the field and 36 percent from three (12-32) while making 13 of 16 at the free throw line

UP NEXT

            CBC continues their five-game road trip on Monday when they head to Walnut Ridge for a makeup contest against Williams Baptist. Tipoff from the Southerland Mabee Center is scheduled for 5 p.m.