The Columbia State Chargers withstood a scrapie Motlow State team in their opening play of the 2024 TCCAA Region 7 Men’s Basketball tournament advancing to round two with a 75-68 overtime victory.
The word is resilient. The Chargers started the game cold and quickly found themselves down by double-digits 13-2 with just under 14 minutes left in the first-half. CSCC managed to cut the lead to 3 at 29-26 at the 4:30 mark, but the Bucks responded with a flurry to jump to an eleven-point advantage at halftime 39-28.
At the start of the second half the Chargers turned up the pressure both on the full court press and front court defense and at the 13:40 mark Julian Walker banked one in to tie the game 47 all. For next 13 minutes Columbia State and Motlow State battle tooth & nail to keep the game close. As the game neared its conclusion in regulation Motlow led 63-61. With :40 left Chargers had the ball and as the time ticked away TI Scruggs drove to the basket and was fouled on the shot sending him to the line with :29 on the clock. Scruggs calmly sank two to tie the game at 63, sending it to OT as the Bucks missed a game-winning shot.
In the extra 5 minutes the Chargers outscored the Bucks 12-5 to survive and win 75-68. #4 Columbia will now face #1 Walters State Monday at high noon.
Anthony Wright was at the top of his game with 21pts to lead the Chargers. TI Scruggs had 11 and DJ Star 10. JaDarian Faulkner led the Bucks with 27. LaVonte Harris added 11.
In other men’s action Southwest TN defeated Roane State 99-63 and Chattanooga State beat Cleveland State 101-58.
We want to say congrats to 4 Columbia State sophomores selected on the TCCAA All Conference Team. DJ Starr, Rico Sain, TI Scruggs and Markese Washington.
