PEMBROKE, N.C. – Teon Beckett knocked down the game winning three-pointer with five seconds left on the clock to lead the Coker men's basketball team to an 89-85 win over Belmont Abbey on Friday (Nov. 15). With the win the Cobras improve to 1-0 on the season, and move to 1-0 at the UNCP Invitational.

In addition to game winning three-ball, Beckett scored 11 points and pulled down three rebounds. Julian Nelson and Larry Felder led the offense for the Cobras with 19 points each. Felder has had a team high nine boards, while Nelson dished out five assists and had six rebounds. Also scoring in double digits for Coker was Trey Marshall with 11 points.

The game started slow for the Cobras as they found themselves down 8-0 after the first three minutes of action. A 9-4 run cut the lead to just three, 12-9, and got Coker right back in the game. The Cobras tied the game at 28 with 7:28 left, but 6-0 run by the Crusaders put them back on top with just under five minutes left. The Cobras kept things close for the remainder of the half, as Belmont Abbey took a 44-38 lead into the intermission.

In the second half the Cobras trailed for the first nine and half minutes of play, but were always within striking distance. They took their first lead of the game, 65-63, at 10:33 after back-to-back three-pointers by Marshall and Errick Bethel. Abbey regained the lead with a three ball of its own just 30 seconds later.

The Crusaders held the advantage until a 7-0 run by the Cobras tied the game at 74 with five minutes left. Both teams kept the score close over the next four minutes, with neither team gaining more than a two-point advantage until Beckett nailed the go ahead and eventual game-winning three with five seconds left, giving Coker the 88-85 lead. Nelson hit a free throw with a second left to give the Cobras the 89-85 win.

The Cobras will return to the floor for their second game of the UNCP Invitational on Saturday (Nov. 16) at 4 p.m. against the Saints of Limestone College.