COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Carolina University Men's Basketball team faced its first true road test of the 2025–26 season on Wednesday night, traveling to Columbia College for a tightly contested matchup that went down to the wire. Despite a valiant second-half comeback and a strong offensive showing, the Bruins fell just short in overtime, 85–83, at the Godbold Center.

After trailing 34–27 at halftime, Carolina came out with renewed energy in the second half, outscoring Columbia 43–36 to force the extra period. In a game that featured six ties and eight lead changes, both teams traded momentum throughout the night. The Bruins displayed resilience under pressure and executed key shots late to stay within striking distance.

Deuce Ford led Carolina with 21 points, hitting four three-pointers and providing consistent scoring throughout the night. Shawn Woodson added 17 points and six rebounds, while Devan Edwards contributed 16 points, including a clutch three-pointer in overtime. Cooper Smith came off the bench to supply 11 points, and Enock Rosil anchored the paint with eight rebounds.

As a team, the Bruins shot 40% from the field and 36.7% from three-point range, while forcing Columbia into 16 turnovers. Carolina's balanced attack and defensive grit kept the game competitive until the final possession.

Head Coach Jake Heck praised his team's fight, saying, "This was a great early test for our group. Playing in a tough road environment and competing the way we did shows the character of this team. We'll take the lessons from tonight and keep building."

The loss moves Carolina University to 1–1 on the season, with plenty of positives to carry forward. The Bruins will now turn their attention to their next matchup against Milligan University on Saturday, November 1, with tipoff scheduled for 4:00 PM.