COLUMBUS, Ga. — The Auburn University at Montgomery Warhawks men's basketball team (0-1) opened its 2026-27 season with an 82-77 loss to Columbus St. (1-0) on Monday night after erasing a 12-point deficit to pull even in the second half.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF
AUM took an early 5-3 lead on
Parker Robison's inside score and
Victor Odiari's 3-pointer off
Sam Duskin's assist, but Columbus St. moved in front 14-7 and later stretched the margin to 26-14 with 8:39 left in the first half. The Warhawks answered from the perimeter, with Duskin,
Devon McKinnon and
RJ Williams all hitting 3-pointers before Williams made two straight from deep to cut the score to 35-33. Duskin's 3-pointer at 2:35 brought AUM within 37-36, but Columbus St. scored the final five points of the half and led 42-36 at halftime.
SECOND HALF
After the Cougars moved ahead 50-40, the Warhawks put together another perimeter stretch as
Jackson Porch hit 3-pointers at 15:50 and 13:10, Duskin added another, and Porch made a free throw to tie the game at 54-54. Columbus St. went back in front and led 66-60 before McKinnon scored five straight AUM points to cut the margin to 66-65, and the orange and black later moved ahead 71-69 on Robison's 3-pointer at 4:48.
Columbus St. answered with consecutive baskets as part of a push to 77-73, but McKinnon scored at 2:56 and Odiari tied it 77-77 with a layup at 2:10. The Cougars went back ahead with a dunk at 1:46, added a tip-in at :46 and used a late steal and free throw to close out the game.
NOTABLES
-
Victor Odiari scored a team-high 17 points and added seven rebounds, including four on the offensive glass.
- McKinnon finished with 16 points and five rebounds.
-
Tyson Sexton recorded 10 points, a team-high nine rebounds and went 6-for-6 at the free-throw line.
- Porch added 10 points and hit three 3-pointers.
- The Warhawks finished with 12 3-pointers, 15 offensive rebounds and 27 second-chance points.
UP NEXT
Up next, the Warhawks host Savannah State on Friday, Nov. 13, at 4 p.m. in Dahlonega, Ga.
