ST. AUGUSTINE –
Jeffercy Jean scored a team-high 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds in Flagler College's 82-75 overtime loss to Columbus State University in a Peach Belt Conference men's basketball game Wednesday night at Flagler Gymnasium.
Columbus State evened its overall record at 9-9 and improved to 5-8 in the Peach Belt. Flagler dropped to 7-11 overall and 4-8 in conference play. Eight of Flagler's 11 losses have been by 10 points or less and the Saints are now 1-3 this year in overtime contests.
The Saints held a 35-27 lead at the half and saw their lead grow to as many as 12 (48-36) with 14:30 left to go.
A 22-5 run by the Cougars midway through the second half helped wipe out an 11-point Saints lead. Landrius Horton's three-pointer with 5:50 left gave Columbus State a 63-61 lead. Horton finished the game with 16 points and he grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds.
Flagler came back and tied the game at 67 on
Damerit Brown's basket with two minutes left and neither would score until there were 23 seconds left.
Vaughn McCall sank a pair of free throws to give Flagler the lead.
Xavier Williams tied the game at 69 with his five-foot jumper with 14 seconds left.
The Cougars scored five of the overtime's first six points and never looked back.
McCall sank a 15-foot jumper to close the gap to 77-75 with 59 seconds left to go.
Bryant Givens led Columbus State with a game-high 23 points and dished out seven assists to go along with five steals. Stanley Taylor and Williams each added 16 points.
The Cougars made their first 21 free throws before missing their last attempt with 19 seconds left in overtime. Columbus State forced 22 Flagler turnovers and converted those into 34 points.
Brown added 13 points and five rebounds for the Saints.
Chris Metzger added 12 points and seven rebounds while McCall finished with 10 points.
Up next for Flagler is a road game at No. 21 (NABC Division II Top 25) University of North Carolina Pembroke on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
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