COLUMBIA, S.C. – Bluefield University men's basketball mounted a strong second-half push but came up just short Friday afternoon, falling 76–72 to Columbia (S.C.) inside Godbold Center. The Rams cut a 15-point deficit to two in the final seconds but were unable to complete the comeback.
Bluefield struck first, as Isaiah Sanders knocked down an early jumper to give the Rams a 2–0 lead. However, Columbia responded with a quick surge behind its interior play and perimeter shooting, building separation midway through the first half. Lenair Young provided an offensive spark with several finishes in the paint, while Chase Ragin-Moore and DeAndre Miles added timely baskets to keep the Rams within reach. Despite the effort, Columbia closed the half on a run to take a 37–24 advantage into the break.
The Rams came out of halftime with renewed energy and efficiency. Young was a catalyst, scoring 16 of his 22 points in the second half, including four three-pointers during a critical stretch that trimmed the deficit to single digits. Sanders followed with a pair of triples and aggressive drives to the basket as BU outscored Columbia 48–39 in the second half and shot 52 percent from the floor after halftime.
Bluefield continued to chip away late. A three from Sanders at the 1:10 mark pulled the Rams within six, and after a defensive stop, Young buried another three with 15 seconds remaining to make it a two-point game at 74–72. The Rams had one final chance, but a contested layup attempt was blocked, and Columbia sealed the game with a dunk in the closing second.
Sanders led BU with a game-high 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting, adding four assists and three rebounds. Young followed with 22 points on an efficient 9-of-13 performance, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Danny Alford anchored the interior with nine rebounds and a block, while Ragin-Moore contributed six points off the bench. Bluefield finished the game shooting 45 percent from the field and 41 percent from three.
BU (2–12, 2–6 AAC) returns to the road Wednesday, traveling to Columbia International for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.
