HICKORY, N.C. – The Coker men's basketball team lost a heartbreaker, 46-45, to the Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne University on Wednesday (Feb. 4) night in South Atlantic Conference play.

After a low scoring first half, the Cobras and the Bears went to the locker room with the score tied at 16.

In the second half, Lenoir-Rhyne took a slim 33-28 lead with 10 minutes left. The Cobras used an 11-6 run to take a 41-39 lead with three minutes remaining. After exchanging baskets, Donte Samuels put Coker up, 45-44, with 35 seconds left, but the Bears knocked down a jumper with just four seconds remaining for a 46-45 win.

Samuels had a double-double with a game-high 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Errick Bethel netted 12 points with three rebounds.

The Cobras will continue their two-game road trip on Saturday (Feb. 7) when they take on the Mars Hill University Lions. The game is slated for a 4 p.m. tip-off.