Cougars drop a close one to Graceland
Saturday, January 02, 2010
Columbia, Mo. – The Cougars fell to Graceland University tonight in the second day of the Cost Cutters Cougars vs. Cancer Classic. With the 80-78 loss tonight, Columbia finishes 1-1 on the weekend after defeating Culver-Stockton College yesterday. The Cougars move to 6-10 overall on the season while the Yellow Jackets from Graceland improve to 7-6.
Columbia and Graceland played a tight first half, trading the lead eight times, however the Yellow Jackets were able to put some distance between the Cougars and them at halftime, taking a 47-38 lead. Both teams shot well from behind the arc, combining for 11 three-pointers. The Cougars shot 43 percent from the field compared to 56 percent from the Yellow Jackets.
Columbia struggled opening up the second half, but by mid-way through the frame they closed in to within three points. Graceland pushed their advantage to nine before the Cougars came fighting back again. With just under two minutes on the clock Columbia pulled within one on a Taylor Evans three-pointer. One minute later the deficit was back to five points before Turner once again closed the gap with a three-point play. With ten seconds one the clock the Cougars were forced to foul, sending Graceland’s Jewell Carter to the line, where he drained both attempts. In three seconds the Cougars managed to get the ball down the court and in the hands of Taylor Evans, who put Columbia right back in the game when he sank a three-pointer from the corner. The Cougars again fouled the Yellow Jackets. With three seconds in regulation, Graceland’s Tyler Raasch sank the first of his two attempts from the line, leaving Columbia down one. The Cougars used every bit of that three seconds on the clock, but their attempt fell short as the Yellow Jackets walked away with the two-point victory.
Jaron Strickland, Aleksander Eric and Greg Stegeman each finished with 14 points. Kaleb Turner also racked up double figures with 10 points.
Jewell Carter led Graceland with 26 points.
Following the final contest of the evening, a five-member all-classic team, as well as a most valuable player for the men, was recognized. Members of the men’s squad include, from Culver-Stockton College, Jason Gillespie. From William Woods, Logan Decker was recognized as well as Tyler Raasch from Graceland. From Columbia, Kaleb Turner and Greg Stegeman were named to the all-classic squad and Graceland’s Jewel Carter earned most valuable player accolades.
The Cougars return to the court on Thursday, January 7th when they travel to Walnut Ridge, Ark. to open up the 2010 American Midwest Conference season. The Cougars take on Williams Baptist College at 7:30 p.m.