BACK TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP! #15 CBC HANGS ON TO ADVANCE TO THE AMC TITLE GAME FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN FIVE YEARS!

Erik Holth, CBC Sports Information Director

            Conway, Ark. – Coming off a hard fought win to open the American Midwest Conference Tournament Presented by Tandem HR, #15 Central Baptist College men's basketball hosted the Columbia Cougars for the second time in nine days, this time in the semifinals. #15 CBC (26-4) never trailed, leading by as many as 16 before fight off a hard charge by CC (22-8) to hang on for a 78-74 win to advance to the AMC Tournament Championship game for the fourth time in five years.

            Sage Borbon led the Mustangs in scoring with 22 points while Devin Foster chipped in with 13 off the bench, Gabe Johnson added 12 and Wade Williams had 10. CBC made 11 three-point field goals, which made the difference in the game.

GAME FLOW

            The Mustangs led 47-33 at halftime, but Columbia opened the second half on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to 47-42 with 17:40 to play. The Mustangs were able to keep the Cougars at arm's length and pushed the lead back to 14 with 7:58 to play. CBC would then go 5:55 without a field goal and saw their lead dwindle to 73-72 before Borbon hit a three with 2:03 left to push the lead back to four. Neither team made a field goal over the final 1:16 as the Mustangs salted the game away at the free throw line.

UP NEXT

            The victory sets up a rematch with #9 William Woods in the AMC Tournament Championship game on Tuesday night. Tipoff from Anderson Arena in Fulton, Mo., is scheduled for 7 p.m.