BLUFFTON -- During a season full of history, USCB added to their successful second campaign by upsetting the fifth-ranked Columbus State Cougars, 91-87 earning a spot in the Peach Belt Conference Championship for the first time.
The Sand Sharks made tournament history by connecting record 18 three-pointers—a mark that had stood for 16 years—which proved to be the difference in a game where neither team led by more than six points at any point. Four USCB players scored in double digits, led by Hudson Norton's 18 points. Kevaughn Price added 14, while Dylan Lewis (11) and Alejandro Ralat (10) rounded out the foursome.
From the opening tip, the game was a shootout. USCB started hot behind Ralat, who drilled the first basket of the game from beyond the arc. USCB leaned heavily on its long range shooting, knocking down eight three-pointers in the first half. Lewis and Norton each connected from long range, helping the Sand Sharks keep pace with Columbus State's dominance in the paint.
The lead changed hands 11 times in the first half alone, with neither team able to create significant separation. USCB briefly went up by six with just over five minutes left in the period, but CSU responded with an 11-6 run, capped off by a buzzer-beating jumper from Uboh, to send the game into halftime tied at 41-41.
Columbus State came out aggressive to start the second half, opening with a 6-0 run. However, USCB refused to back down. Krishen Atwal and Norton splashed back-to-back three-pointers to even the score at 49. Moments later, a fast-break jumper from Nolan Paladugu put the Sand Sharks back in front.
The game continued at a breakneck pace, with Columbus State attacking the paint while USCB countered with its lethal perimeter shooting. Midway through the half, the Sand Sharks put together a crucial 10-4 run, fueled by three-pointers from Lewis and Ralat, to take a five-point lead—their largest since leading 35-29 in the first half.
Columbus State clawed back once more behind Adderton's mid-range shooting, cutting the deficit to 85-84. But USCB had one more dagger left, as Dominic Eason drained the team's record-breaking 18th three-pointer to extend the lead to 88-84. Down the stretch, Kenney Gaines sealed the victory, going 3-for-4 from the free-throw line.
