Men’s basketball drops AAC contest to CIU

WEST POINT, Ga. (Nov. 23, 2021) – The Point University men's basketball team hosted Columbia International University Tuesday afternoon inside West Point Park Gymnasium and fell to the Rams 74-69.

The Rams jumped out to an early 10-4 lead, but the Skyhawks tied it at 10 with a layup from Jake Smith. CIU pushed its lead back out to four before a dunk by Javier Turner, followed by an old-fashioned 3-pointer from RJ Selman, would give Point the lead with 10 minutes remaining in the half (17-16). CIU's Bryce Causey would respond with a made jump shot to retake the lead for the Rams, but Point would respond with a 9-0 run to go ahead 26-18. Gentrell Taylor would start the run with a made basket, following an offensive rebound. Thirty seconds later, Ray Reeves would connect for a shot from the perimeter, and Selman and Jack Gray would follow with back-to-back layups. The Rams would respond by scoring the following seven points to bring the score within one, but a triple from Selman would extend Point's lead back out to four with 3:34 left in the half. Point would hold its lead for the remainder of the half and enter the break leading 33-31.

Out of the break, the Rams would tie the game at 33 with a made jump shot, but a foul would send Gray to the line where he connected for both shots to put Point back ahead. A layup from Corey Bowen would extend the Skyhawks lead out to four, but a triple from CIU's Dianthony Heathcock would bring Point's lead back down to one. Heathcock would then follow with a dunk to help the Rams take a 38-37 lead, and CIU would remain in the lead for the rest of the game. The Skyhawks would tie the game up five times during the remainder of the contest but were unsuccessful in retaking the lead.

Four Skyhawks made their way into the double-digit scoring column, with Smith earning a double-double, scoring 12 points and recording 11 boards and added six assists and two steals to his stat line. Selman led the team with 14 points, Reeves followed with 12 points and Bowen finished the night with 10 points and eight rebounds. Taylor nearly recorded a double-double with seven rebounds and nine points and also recorded four steals.

Up next, Point will return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 1, at 7:30 p.m. in an AAC road contest at Bluefield University. Point will have a total of five games in December, with four on the road and one inside West Point Park Gymnasium.