Basketball Game Preview: Columbia Wildcats vs. Mattamuskeet Lakers

Columbia is 9-1 against Mattamuskeet since January of 2020 and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Friday. The Columbia Wildcats will take on the Mattamuskeet Lakers at 7:30 p.m. Given that both suffered a loss in their last games, they both have a little extra motivation heading into this contest.

Columbia is likely headed into the match with a focus on the second half, which is when things went downhill against Hobgood Charter on Tuesday. Columbia fell 62-50 to Hobgood Charter. The loss continues a trend for the Wildcats in their matchups with the Raiders: they've now lost three in a row.

Despite the defeat, Columbia got top-tier performance from Jayden Sawyer, who dropped a double-double on 27 points and 11 boards. The game was Sawyer's tenth in a row with at least ten points. The team also got some help courtesy of Ja-Kwon White, who posted nine points along with eight rebounds and four steals.

Even though they lost, Columbia smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 18 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least nine offensive boards in 17 consecutive contests.

Meanwhile, Mattamuskeet came up short against Cape Hatteras on Tuesday and fell 48-38. The Lakers have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.

Mattamuskeet's loss dropped their record down to 3-8. As for Columbia, their defeat dropped their record down to 3-14.

Everything went Columbia's way against Mattamuskeet in their previous meeting back in February of 2024, as Columbia made off with a 60-36 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for Columbia since the team won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.