Box Score Box score

COLUMBUS, Ga. − #D.J. Ferguson# (Orlando, Fla./Bishop Moore HS) recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 assists to help Flagler College rally past Columbus State 66-64 in a Peach Belt Conference men's basketball game Thursday night at the Lumpkin Center.

Ferguson broke the school's career record for assists, 596, which was held by Chase Tramont (1998-2002). He has 605 career assists after tonight's game. Ferguson broke the record with his second assist of the game which came at the 14:15 mark of the first half when Eddie Fowler (Deltona, Fla./Pasco-Hernando CC) sank a 10-foot jumper to give Flagler a 13-9 lead. Ferguson already owns Flagler's assist record in a game (16 vs. Allen University, 1/15/08) and in a single season (207, 2007-08).

Flagler snapped an eight-game losing streak and improved to 8-14 overall and 3-10 in the Peach Belt. The win was also Flagler's first win on the road this season (in eight tries). The last road win was Feb. 18, 2009 against Johnson & Wales (Fla.), 84-80.

The game featured seven ties and nine lead changes. A shot by CSU's Brandon Bland was blocked by Flagler's Kenny Moore (Vero Beach, Fla./Vero Beach HS) and just a few seconds later Chad July (Fort White, Fla./Bridgton (Maine) Academy) was fouled with the Saints down 57-55 with 7:10 to go. July sank both free throws to tie the game at 57 and Flagler took the lead for good when Ferguson took an outlet pass off a missed Columbus State shot and scored on a transition layup with 6:43 left.

The Saints held a 65-62 lead with 13 seconds left, but Moore missed both free throw attempts and Blake Zamudio of CSU corralled the rebound. After a Cougar timeout with 10 seconds left, Flagler fouled Bryant Thomas who stepped to the line and made both shots to cut the lead to 65-64. The Cougars fouled Fowler with no time coming off the clock, and he made the last of two free throws to give the Saints a 66-64 lead. CSU got the ball over half-court and called timeout with seven seconds left. Telesford was able to get a look at a three-pointer on the left-hand side of the arc, but his shot rimmed out at the buzzer.

John Pietkiewicz (Winter Park, Fla./New Hampton (N.H.) Prep) scored a game-high 22 points on 8-of-17 shooting from the field and 5-of-9 shooting from three-point range. July recorded his third double-double of the season with 11 points and 14 rebounds.

Telesford recorded a double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds. Donta Ridley came off the bench to supply 11 points. Thomas scored seven points and dished out five assists for the Cougars.

Columbus State was held to 15.8% (3-19) shooting from three-point range. The Cougars also only made 52.9% (9-17) free throw attempts.

Flagler takes on Georgia Southwestern State University on Saturday (Feb. 13) at 7:30 p.m. in Americus.

Flagler vs Columbus State
02/11/10 7:30 p.m. at Columbus, GA
At Columbus, GA

FLAGLER 66, COLUMBUS STATE 64

FLAGLER (8-14, 3-10 PBC)
Pietkiewicz, John 8-17 1-2 22; Ferguson, D.J. 5-11 4-5 15; July, Chad 4-9
3-6 11; Fowler, Eddie 3-9 1-2 7; Stokes, Justin 2-3 1-3 5; Moore, Kenny 1-2
2-6 4; Dixon, Adam 0-7 2-3 2; Clark, David 0-0 0-0 0; Branco, Jarrod 0-1 0-0
0. Totals 23-59 14-27 66.

COLUMBUS STATE (11-10, 5-7 PBC)
Telesford, Chris 6-17 4-6 16; Ridley, Donta 5-8 1-2 11; Bland, Brandon 3-13
2-5 8; Zamudio, Blake 3-11 0-0 7; Thomas, Bryant 2-8 2-2 7; Williams, Lamar
3-7 0-0 7; Smith, Darius 2-5 0-0 4; Gagnon, Nick 2-3 0-2 4; Grimball, Jeremy
0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-73 9-17 64.

Flagler....................... 33 33 - 66
Columbus State................ 37 27 - 64

3-point goals--Flagler 6-17 (Pietkiewicz, John 5-9; Ferguson, D.J. 1-6;
Fowler, Eddie 0-2), Columbus State 3-19 (Thomas, Bryant 1-3; Williams, Lamar
1-3; Zamudio, Blake 1-7; Smith, Darius 0-2; Telesford, Chris 0-4). Fouled
out--Flagler-None, Columbus State-None. Rebounds--Flagler 47 (July, Chad
14), Columbus State 46 (Telesford, Chris 15). Assists--Flagler 14 (Ferguson,
D.J. 10), Columbus State 9 (Thomas, Bryant 5). Total fouls--Flagler 12,
Columbus State 20. Technical fouls--Flagler-None, Columbus State-None. A-593

Flagler's D.J. Ferguson becomes the school's all-time leader in assists. He now has 605 assists. Chase Tramont (1998-2002) held the record with 596.