By Scott Wallace
Wallace Media Group

Lynchburg, Tenn.- Sophomore T.J. Cromer scored 18 points, all in the second half and classmate Justin Pride added 16 points and 14 assists but it was not enough as the National Junior College Athletic Association number four ranked Columbia State Chargers (3-2, 2-1 TCCAA) fell to the Motlow State (5-2, 2-0 TCCAA) 97-84 in Tennessee Community College Athletic Association play.

The atmosphere was conducive to a playoff game as some of the Who's Who of the NCAA was in attendance to scout players from both teams. The Chargers came out flat and never led in the game. Down 19 in the first half, they were able to cut the lead to 11 by intermission. The Chargers were led by Pride's 10 points and Blake Johnson's seven. Leading scorer T.J. Cromer was held scoreless.

"Motlow has put a strong team together and they jumped out on us quick," said Chargers Head Coach Brian Collins. "We just couldn't get our rhythm, it seemed like early. We weren't aggressive as I would have liked for us to be."

In the second half, the Chargers came out firing on all cylinders cutting the lead to nine at one point, but couldn't get over the hump missing three shots from point-blank range during their run. At the end, they ran out of gas and fell for the second time this season.

"We are brothers and we will fight to the very end," said Pride. "I saw that our shots weren't falling so I wanted to exert myself. They knew that I am a pass first and sometimes second and third point guard so they played off of me some. Our 'Bigs' kept us in the game. We just couldn't break through the wall."

Freshman Immanuel Griggs added 15 point,; Jamontae Davis had 11 points and 12 rebounds and Johnson finished with 11. The Chargers will be back at home this weekend as they will take on Chattanooga State on Friday and Cleveland State on Saturday.

Points of Interest:

• Both of the Charger losses have come on the second game of a road back-to-back.
• A.J. Dodd played after missing the last two games due to injury.
• MTSU Head Coach Kermit Davis and Auburn Assistant Coach Tony Jones were among some of the faces in the crowd for the game.

Columbia State Community (3-2, 2-1)
T.J. Dunans 2-7 0-0 4, Jamonte Graham 0-4 4-4 4, A.J. Dodd 0-0 0-0 0, T.J. Cromer 7-20 2-2 18, Jamontae Davis 5-13 0-1 11, Immanuel Griggs 7-8 1-3 15, Antoine Williams 0-2 0-0 0, Ramond Jenkins 2-4 1-2 5, Justin Pride 5-12 6-11 16, Blake Johnson 5-12 0-0 11. Totals 33-82 14-23 84

Motlow State (5-0, 2-0 )
Jaylen Barford 9-17 5-10 24, Dequon Miller 4-11 4-6 13, Clint Nwosuh 3-5 4-4 13, Reggie Williams 4-8 1-2 11, Axel Magnuson 0-1 0-0 0, Terry Holt 5-7 2-2 14, Greg Mason 2-3 1-1 5, Reid Pierce 0-0 0-0 0, Jordan Darden 2-3 3-7 7, D'Andre Downey 4-6 2-2 10. Totals 33-61 22-34 97

FG%: Columbia State .402, Motlow State .541. 3-pt FG:Columbia State 4-18 (Dunans 0-2, Graham 0-2, Cromer 2-7, Davis 1-3, Williams 0-1, Johnson 1-3), Motlow State 9-21 (Barford 1-3, Miller 1-3, Nwosuh 3-4, Williams 2-6, Magnuson 0-1, Holt 2-3, Downey 0-1). Rebounds: Columbia State 40 (Davis 12), Motlow State 49 (Downey 10). Fouls Columbia State 23, Motlow State 20. Fouled out: Griggs. Technical: none. Assists: Columbia State 22 (Pride 14), Motlow State 21 (Miller 7). Steals: Columbia State 10 (Pride 4), Motlow State 6 (Miller 2, Downey 2). Blocked shots: Columbia State 4 (Davis 2), Motlow State 6 (Downey 5). Turnovers: Columbia State 13, Motlow State 19. Attendance: 0