Columbia Men Lose Heartbreaker in OT at Union

BARBOURVILLE, KY - The Columbia College men's basketball dropped a heartbreaking road matchup in overtime 72-68 at Union Commonwealth University Wednesday evening.

The Koalas were led by 18 points and 5 assists from junior point guard AJ Vaught while four Koalas finished in double-figure scoring. Junior forward Chandler O'Bannon also played well tallying 15 points and 8 rebounds with 3 assists and 3 steals. Reigning back-to-back Defensive Player of the Week, Nakia Johnson, recorded yet another double-double of 12 points and 15 rebounds along with 3 assists and a block.

Shooting guard Thomas Whitley then added 11 points, 5 rebounds and three 3-pointers in the loss. Columbia shot nearly 40 percent overall, but just 17 percent from three and 57 percent from the free throw line. Union shot 39 percent as well while making less baskets than the Koalas, however, but made 7 threes and 7 more free throws leading to the difference in the game. 

UC led by just one at the break, 31-30 before Columbia got out to a five-point lead late in the second half at 58-53 for their biggest advantage of the game with 3:25 to go. Union then tied the game at 60 with a minute to go. Johnson's layup then gave the Koalas a 62-60 lead with 30 seconds to play before Union again tied it up with 12 seconds left. A missed three at the buzzer from Vaught then sent the game to overtime. The teams were then tied again at 67 apiece with a minute to go in overtime, but Union closed it out with free throws down the stretch to notch the tight win.

Senior guard Kendall Brasfield added 6 points and 6 rebounds with 2 assists while shooting guards Mac Washington and Alvaro Mendez combined for 6 points and 8 rebounds off the bench. 

Columbia falls to 11-11 overall and 4-10 in the AAC while Union improves to 7-12 and 3-10.

The Koalas will now return home on Saturday during Homecoming to host Bluefield University (Va.) in a 4:00 PM tip from the Godbold Center.