CLEVELAND | The Truett McConnell men's basketball team defeated Columbia International Tuesday night, 81-65, in the home opener for the 2016-17 season. The Bears are now 3-2 on the season.

TMU went on an 8-3 run in the first two minutes of the contest to take the lead. CIU would tie the game at 19-19, but the Bears stormed out to an 13-point lead with 7:15 to play in the first half on a run highlighted by a Brandon Cerezola four-point play that ignited the Bear Cave crowd.

After leading by 10 at the half, the Bears continued to hold the lead by at least six. The Truett McConnell lead got out to as many as 14 behind David Campbell Jr. on the outside. TMU would stretch the lead to 17 points at multiple points and held that lead through the rest of the contest.

Mario Westbrooks led the Bears on the floor with a game-high 22 points to go with 10 rebounds. Campbell had 20 points on 7-9 shooting, and Cerezola and Jacob Booke contributed 11 points to the cause.

TMU will be back in the Bear Cave on Saturday, November 12, to take on Toccoa Falls in a rematch from last week. The Eagles and Bears will tip off at 4 p.m. on Homecoming.