Eutectics Suffer Defeat at Columbia

The Eutectic men's basketball team suffered its third American Midwest Conference (AMC) loss of the week on Saturday, falling 114-61 to the Columbia College Cougars in Columbia, Mo. The Cougars (12-4, 3-1 AMC), who hold 13 AMC Championship titles, now hold an 18-2 record over the Eutectics since 1993.

The Eutectics marked the board first with a jump shot from Jas Suvalija off the tip. The Cougars answered each UHSP bucket for several ties in the first three minutes. At 16:27, a 3-point field goal from Landon Engelage (assisted by Moctar Keita) tied the score at 9-9. The next three buckets, however, belonged to Columbia, who never again gave up the lead. A jump shot from Ahian Barnett in his debut game as a Eutectic got the Purple and Gold within one point (20-19) at 12:19, but the Cougars followed that up with a 10-point run to extend their lead to 30-19 with 8:40 left in the first half. From there, the home team maintained the momentum, gradually increasing their lead. When the halftime horn sounded, the Cougars had set themselves up with a sizable lead of 51-32 that would prove insurmountable.

In the second half, the Columbia team maintained its stellar 63% shooting into the second half, outscoring the Eutectics 63-29 as the Eutectic offense staggered.

The Cougars dominated the boards 50-19, while earning 19 points off turnovers and earned 54 of their points in the paint, including 24 second-chance points.

Collin Parker came off the bench to lead the Cougars with 22 points, while Harrison Vickers shot at 100% for 17 points (6-6 FG, 2-2 3PFG, 3-3 FT).

Barnett would lead the Eutectics with 14 points, three assists, three steals, and a block. Engelage (12) and Suvalija (11) also reached double digits in scoring for UHSP. Keita (8), Sean Paradise Jr. (6), Brady Bowers (4), Kyan Arrandale (3), and RJ Steckler (3) scored the remaining Eutectic points.     

The Eutectics (1-14, 0-4 AMC) will be back on their home court for the next two games, starting with a 7:30 p.m. matchup with AMC leader Central Baptist College (Ark.)(13-4, 4-0 AMC) on Thursday, Jan. 18, and finishing next week hosting Williams Baptist College (Ark.)(9-6, 1-3 AMC) on Saturday, Jan. 20, at 3 p.m.