MBB Game Preview: WBU vs Columbia (Jan. 30 | 7:30 PM)

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (1/29/24) – The Williams Baptist University men's basketball team is set to face Columbia in American Midwest Conference action on Thursday, Jan. 30 at 7:30 p.m. inside the Southerland-Mabee Center.

GAME INFORMATION

WILLIAMS BAPTIST EAGLES (4-13, 1-10 AMC) vs COLUMBIA COUGARS  (16-5, 9-2 AMC)
Game info: Thursday, Jan. 30 - 7:30 p.m. CST - Southerland-Mabee Center (Walnut Ridge, Ark.)
Live stats: https://wbueagles.com/sports/mbkb/2024-25/boxscores/20250130_2hu8.xml
Live video: https://wbueagles.com/watch  

MATCHUP HISTORY

Last Meeting: Dec. 7, 2024 (CC 77-56)
Current Streak: CC W10

WBU QUICK FACTS

2024-25 Record: 4-13 (1-10 AMC)
Current Streak: L7
2023-24 Record: 13-13 (5-9 AMC)
2023-24 Postseason: None
Head Coach: Josh Austin (14th)
HC Record: 263-258
HC Record at WBU: 183-185 (116-133 AMC)
Assistant Coach: Noah Ellis (1st)

ABOUT COLUMBIA

2024-25 Record: 16-5 (9-2 AMC)
Current Streak: W4
2023-24 Record: 24-7 (12-2 AMC)
2023-24 Postseason: Fell to Indiana Wesleyan in the NAIA Tournament Opening Round 105-99 in 2OT
Head Coach: Tomas Brock (6th)
Assistant Coaches: Andrew Green, Matt Woodcock

CC NOTABLES

• Columbia is coming off an 86-74 win over Mission on Saturday, Jan. 25

• Five players scored in the double figures for Columbia in the win

• Collin Parker recorded a double-double to lead the team with 21 points and 16 rebounds

• Columbia shot 52.4 percent from the field in the contest

• The Cougars average 85.6 points per game this season (2nd AMC) and opponents average 71.7 against them (2nd AMC)

• Collin Parker leads the AMC in scoring average with 23.6 points per game (4th nationally)

• Parker also leads the league in rebounds per game with 9.9 (T-20th nationally)

• The Cougars lead the AMC in three-point shooting with 225 makes on a 37.0 percent clip

• Columbia also leads the league in FG% at 48.5 percent

• Columbia sits at third place in the AMC standings behind Central Baptist and William Woods

LAST TIME OUT

• WBU fell in its last matchup on the road against No. 22 William Woods 96-55 on Saturday, Jan. 25.

• Cooper Rabjohn lead the squad with 18 points on 6-for-14 shooting with four three-pointers

• Elisha Cofield put up his third straight double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds

• The Eagles went 21-for-55 (38.2 percent) from the field in the game with a 29.2 percent mark from three-point range

• Williams lost the rebound battle 43-27

WBU NOTABLES

• Amarion Wilson leads the team in scoring average with 15.5 points per game (6th AMC).  His season is highlighted by a 34-point performance against William Woods (Nov. 23)

• Elisha Cofield leads the team on the glass, averaging 8.0 rebounds per game (2nd AMC) with a season-high of 14 against Harris-Stowe (Jan. 23)

• The Eagles average 71.6 points per game (8th AMC), while opponents average 79.8 points against them (6th AMC).

• WBU is in the midst of a seven-game losing streak

• WBU sits at 9th in the AMC standings, two games behind 8th place Harris-Stowe 

AMC PRESEASON COACHES POLL

1 Columbia (78)
2 Central Baptist (71)
3 William Woods (65)
4 Missouri Baptist (62)
5 Mission (47)
6 Williams Baptist (42)
7 Harris-Stowe (27)
8 Crowley's Ridge (24)
9 Hannibal-LaGrange (23)
10 UHSP (11)

SCHEDULE NOTES

• Up next, the Eagles will travel to Paragould, Ark. to take on Crowley's Ridge on Thursday, Feb. 6.  Tip-off against the Pioneers is set for 7:30 p.m. in the Carter Activities Center.

• Williams' 2024-25 schedule features 14 home games inside the Southerland-Mabee Center