Columbia College men's team wins easily on senior night

COLUMBIA — Emotions sometimes can run high on senior night.

However, the six seniors on Columbia College men’s basketball team kept their emotions in check Thursday night at Southwell Complex, dismantling the Harris-Stowe Hornets 70-40.

“We really try to downplay senior night,” Cougars coach Bob Burchard said. “I don’t try to pump them up just for that reason.”

Emotions might have been the cause for a couple early turnovers, but the No. 24 Cougars still led throughout, because of the Hornets (8-20) cold-shooting. In the first half, the Cougars held the Hornets to 30 percent shooting.

The Cougars (23-7) poured it on in the second half, led by senior Christian Lewis, who led all scorers with 19 points. He was the only player who scored in double figures. All 12 Cougars scored at least one basket.

After a rough stretch in January, the Cougars have won 10 of their past 11 games.

“We’re just a better team right now,” Burchard said.

Next up for the Cougars is the American Midwest Conference Tournament, which begins on March 5. Columbia College, third in the conference, must wait to see how Illinois-Springfield fares in its final conference game against undefeated McKendree on Saturday to see who they will play in the tournament.