Cougars defeat Owls, raise over $700 for Coaches vs. Cancer
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia College Cougars collected their eighth win of the season tonight, defeating American Midwest Conference (AMC) foe William Woods (Mo.) University 74-56. Columbia moves to 8-15 overall and 2-5 against AMC opponents. The Owls fall to 5-16 on the season and 1-6 in the conference.
The Cougars notched the first field goal of the game just a minute into the contest. The Owls responded back 11 seconds later, draining a three. The Owls brief one-point lead would be their only advantage of the contest because the Cougars quickly pressed the score to 21-8 in favor of Columbia. The Cougars 37-27 lead at the half came from 52 percent shooting from the field and a 21-13 rebounding advantage.
The Owls were able to cut Columbia’s lead from 16 down to nine midway through the second frame, but that was as close as they would come. Columbia won the battle on the boards in the end, 42-30. The Cougars shot 49 percent for the game, while the Owls connected on just 38 percent of their shots.
Senior Quintin Totta led the Cougars with 21 points and six rebounds. Taylor Evans and Aleksander Eric also finished in double figures with 14 and 11, respectively. Greg Stegeman led Columbia on the boards with 12 rebounds.
The Cougars and Lady Cougars also won for a bigger cause tonight. During tonight’s games against the Owls all four coaches made an interesting fashion statement, wearing sneakers with their usual game attire to show his support of the American Cancer Society’s work to save lives from cancer. During Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers awareness weekend, a collaborative initiative of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the American Cancer Society, coaches across the country will be showing their support. Tonight the Cougars raised over $700 for the American Cancer Society. Coaches vs. Cancer has been helping the American Cancer Society save lives since 1993 by helping people stay well by educating and empowering people to avoid cancer or find it early; helping people get well with free programs and services when they’re facing cancer; by finding cures by conducting and investing in research that yields groundbreaking discoveries into cancer’s causes and cures; and by fighting back by helping pass laws that fight cancer and keep our communities healthy.
Columbia returns to the hardwood on Thursday, February 4th when they host Williams Baptist (Ark.) College. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. in the Arena of Southwell Complex.