Columbia takes two of three

Modesto Bee: "Columbia’s exciting consolation title – Columbia (5-5) won two tight games and returned home with the consolation title of the Santa Barbara City College Classic. Sophomore guard Lewayne Grant earned an all-tournament honor after totaling 67 points.

Columbia led eventual champion Grossmont by a point with a minute left before it was beaten in the first round 65-61. One day later, the Claim Jumpers rallied from an 18-point deficit to knock off host Santa Barbara 75-72. DeAndre Stallings’ 3-pointer with seven seconds left was the difference. Eugene Harvey hit two free throws with 10 seconds left as Columbia outlasted Oxnard 76-75 in the consolation final.

“Any one of those games could have been flipped. A month ago, we would have lost them all,” Columbia coach Rob Hoyt said. “We’re making progress.”