Men’s basketball team heads to Div. III national tournament

Press Release | Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Fresh off a district championship victory, the Columbus State Cougars are headed to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national tournament in New York. It's the team's first trip to the event since becoming a Division III team in 2016. (Division III players receive no sports scholarship awards to attend college.)

The unranked Cougars won a spot in the national tournament Saturday when they upset No. 5 Joliet (Illinois) in the District Championship game. With the game tied, Columbus State's Mario Young hit a buzzer-beater shot to clinch the win. He finished with 30 points, ten rebounds and five assists and was named the game's Most Valuable Player.
"I think Mario wanted the ball more than anyone in that gym," said Cougars Coach Ed Thompson. "The play was drawn up for him."

The Cougars will now begin preparing for the 28th NJCAA Div. III Championship Tournament. It will be held March 15-17 at Paul Gerry Fieldhouse, Loch Sheldrake, NY.

 

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