Mullins, Columbia hold off North Texas 70-66

Nov 21, 2013, 07:44 pm

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Grant Mullins scored 18 points, grabbed eight rebounds and his pair of free throws with 1:13 left sealed Columbia's 70-66 victory over North Texas in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic Thursday in Portland, Ore.

Vertrail Vaughns hit a 3-pointer with 5:48 remaining, pulling the Mean Green within two, 55-53. The Lions (2-2), however, scored 10 of the game's next 11 points, pushing their lead to 65-54 on a layup by Maodo Lo with 2:44 remaining.

Vaughns, who finished with 18 points to lead North Texas (2-2), scored nine points in less than one minute of action to pull UNT within three with 1:08 left. He and Brandan Walton each missed game-tying 3-point shots in the game's final 23 seconds.

Lo scored a game-high 23 points including five 3-pointers.

Columbia made 12 of 22 3-points shots -- 11 in the first half -- and took a 39-29 advantage into the break.