BLUFFTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – The University of South Carolina Beaufort men's basketball team faced Columbus State on Wednesday evening, as the Cougars built a double-digit lead in the second half after a one-point game at the break to secure an 80-68 victory over the Sand Sharks.
USCB falls to 17-6 overall with an 11-4 conference mark, while Columbus State improves to 17-7 with an 11-5 record in conference play.
The Sand Sharks were led by Dominic Eason with 14 points, one of three players in double figures. Kevaughn Price added 13 points, and Evan Kilminster chipped in 12.
USCB grabbed its first lead when Price answered a Columbus State basket with a three-pointer for a 3-2 advantage in the opening minutes. Five minutes into the game, the teams were tied at 10-10 following an Ismail Rashid layup. Columbus State then used a 10-0 run over a four-minute stretch to take a 17-10 lead with 11:34 remaining in the first half.
Kilminster ended the run with a layup off an assist from Dylan Lewis. Nolan Paladugu knocked down his first three-pointer of the night to pull USCB within four. Qurahn Anderson followed with a driving layup for his first points of the game to cut the deficit to two, then tied the contest with 5:10 left in the half.
The Sand Sharks tied the game once more, but Columbus State continued to respond. Paladugu closed the half with a driving layup with 44 seconds remaining, answering a Cougars basket. USCB trailed 35-34 at halftime.
Early in the second half, the Sand Sharks regained the lead at 36-35 on an alley-oop from Kilminster to Eason, their first lead since early in the opening period. USCB held a 38-37 edge before a 6-0 spurt by the Cougars put the visitors back in front by five.
The teams traded baskets, and Seth Cullen scored his fifth point of the game to bring USCB within three at 51-48. However, a 9-4 Columbus State run that extended the lead to eight.
Eason stopped the run with a jumper to cut the deficit to six, but another 6-0 burst pushed the Cougars' lead to double digits at 66-54 with 7:39 remaining. Shea Champine scored the next four points for the Sand Sharks, but Columbus State answered with a three-pointer to stretch its lead to 14 — its largest of the game to that point — with 4:43 left.
Champine again scored four straight to trim the deficit to single digits at 73-65 with 2:19 remaining, but Columbus State responded and pushed the lead back to 13 before closing out the 80-68 win.
USCB returns home Saturday afternoon to face Georgia Southwestern State at 3:30 p.m. at the Cove on Novant Health Court.
Stay tuned to uscbathletics.com and follow Sand Shark Athletics on social media for the latest news, updates, and information.
