Royals Win Big on Senior Night, Defeat Columbia College

Knoxville, TN- The Johnson University Royals delivered a dominant performance on Senior Night, securing a crucial 100-71 victory over Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) opponent Columbia College. With this win, the Royals continue their push for the top seed in the AAC Tournament, keeping their postseason aspirations alive.

The game showcased an all-around team effort, with key contributions from both seasoned leaders and players stepping up off the bench. Quincy Sibley and Emmanuel Atkins made significant impacts in extended minutes, while star player Toris Woods put together a standout performance, leading all scorers with 28 points to cap off an emotional Senior Night. Even with Mason Lockhart not having his best game, the Royals controlled the tempo and imposed their will against a Columbia team that entered the contest with a respectable 13-12 record.

Head Coach Logan Sharp praised the team's effort and depth, stating, "Obviously a great game overall. The entire team, rotation guys played well. We had some guys playing in the rotation that typically don't, and they answered the call. Exciting to see Quincy and E-Man produce. And obviously, your main stars—Toris had a great game to send them out well on Senior Night, which is what you want to do. That's not a bad team. We just kind of imposed our will, especially when Mason didn't have his best game, and typically, it's hard for us to do if he doesn't have his best game. So proud of the guys."

Johnson dominated in multiple statistical categories, out-rebounding Columbia 46-26 and outscoring them in bench points 42-31. The Royals shot an efficient 48.6% from the field, including 41.2% from three-point range.

With the victory, Johnson remains in contention for the conference's top spot, with a chance to secure either the first or second seed. The latter holds significant importance, as it guarantees an automatic bid to the national tournament if the top-seeded team wins the AAC Tournament.

"There's a lot of season left ahead of us," added Sharp. "We still have a chance to win the league or come in the top two, which is obviously important. We'll come back tomorrow and practice, then go play Cumberlands on Monday."

The Royals will look to carry their momentum into their next matchup against the University of the Cumberlands, aiming to strengthen their positioning in the AAC standings as postseason play approaches.