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The NCAA Division 2 Men’s basketball tournament starts off today in Anderson with game one, the Columbus State Cougars (22-8, 15-5 PBC) faceoff with the Catawba Indians (23-8, 16-6 SAC). The Cougars led by HC Robert Moore out of the Peach Belt Conference, and Catawba led by HC Rob Perron out of the South Atlantic Conference will be trying to reach Indianapolis. The first start in this journey is this weekend, and both teams are ready to give the fans a great game.
@CSUCougarsMBB 7@CatawbaMBB 11
Media Timeout 1st Half@SAC_Athletics @SOTGsmoke @Carlito25Way @Abbey_M_Moore @GSM_TGFFGameday @Its_Coach_Steve @FloCollegeHoops @ESPNCBBall pic.twitter.com/2rta0CDB3Y— Greenville Sports Media (@GreenvilleSM) March 14, 2026
This game starts off fast here in the first half with Catawba jumping out to the lead, and at the first media timeout they have the lead 11-7 as the Cougars stay within reach. The Cougars are able to get right back in the game after several key turnovers by the Indians and we are tied up at 16-16 at the 12-minute mark media timeout. Cougars take the lead by one but its short lived as the Indians take it back and jump back out to a 34-30 lead at the 4-minute mark.
@CSUCougarsMBB 22@CatawbaMBB 30
6:46 First Half
NCAA DivII Tournament @SAC_Athletics @SOTGsmoke @Carlito25Way @Abbey_M_Moore @GSM_TGFFGameday @Its_Coach_Steve @FloCollegeHoops @soconpulse pic.twitter.com/xLKKWLDIBL— Greenville Sports Media (@GreenvilleSM) March 14, 2026
Both teams by the time we reach half time have battled hard to keep this one close, but Catawba goes in with the lead 39-30. Marlon Smith was 3-9fg, 2-6 3ptr, with 8 points for the Cougars, while Catawba was led by Ibra Athie who had 10 points, 4-6 fgm, with a rebound and an assist. Columbus had several chances to pull away in the game but just made countless errors in trying to speed up the tempo of the game. Catawba played smart ball with less mistakes and looks to keep that going in the second half.
@CSUCougarsMBB 30@CatawbaMBB 39
Halftime NCAA DIV2 Round 1https://t.co/K9zqpzsqzE @SAC_Athletics @SOTGsmoke @Abbey_M_Moore @GSM_TGFFGameday @Carlito25Way @soconpulse @Its_Coach_Steve @CatawbaIndians @FloCollegeHoops @ESPNCBBall pic.twitter.com/fT0zEzArYe— Greenville Sports Media (@GreenvilleSM) March 14, 2026
Columbus State comes out firing away and gets it close, but once again Catawba will not let them get a rhythm going and stays out front 49-39 at the first media timeout of the second half with just under 15 minutes left in the game. Smith still leads the Cougars with 14 points and Athie for the Indians has 12 points. Both teams are pressing full court in a effort to cause a turnover. The pace has once again picked up, and Catawba now leads 53-43.
@CSUCougarsMBB 39@CatawbaMBB 48https://t.co/K9zqpzsqzE @SOTGsmoke @Carlito25Way @Abbey_M_Moore @Its_Coach_Steve @GSM_TGFFGameday pic.twitter.com/qtfqMzyMGx
— Greenville Sports Media (@GreenvilleSM) March 14, 2026
The Cougars are fighting to keep the game close and with just over 8 minutes left in the game its 61-55 Catawba in the lead. The Indians with great ball movement have kept the Cougars at bay and have hit key shots down the stretch here when they needed them. We have 5:29 left in the game and we have the Indians still in the lead 65-65 as the Cougars are now within a shot of being in the lead for only the second time in the game and the first of the second half.
@CSUCougarsMBB 65@CatawbaMBB 65@GSM_TGFFGameday pic.twitter.com/3ssHZadJPe
— Greenville Sports Media (@GreenvilleSM) March 14, 2026
The game goes to a media timeout with 3:39 left in the game and Catawba has held on to the lead thanks to Chase Daniel and his 14 points as he has had to answer everything that Cougar Marlon Smith 26 points has scored to keep them out in front 71-69. Columbus State takes the lead with just under 3 minutes left 72-71 and the Indians are trying to reset and get back the lead. The Cougars are content to run down the clock and try to win it from the free throw line by getting fouled. we have a 74-73 game with under two minutes Cougars in the lead.
@CSUCougarsMBB 74@CatawbaMBB 73
50 seconds left@GSM_TGFFGameday https://t.co/K9zqpzsqzE pic.twitter.com/CeLmzQAqzZ— Greenville Sports Media (@GreenvilleSM) March 14, 2026
We have 43 seconds left in this battle with the Columbus State Cougars leading 75-73 over Catawba Indians. The Indians foul after a missed shot and we have a timeout with 24 seconds left and they are down 2 points 75-73 still. This has been a great game as neither team has been able to pull away from the other. The Cougars are able to win this game and beat the Indians thanks to clutch shooting and the play of Marlon Smith who had 29 points and 8 rebounds.
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