HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker College men's basketball team picked up a crucial 86-80 South Atlantic Conference win over Newberry College on Wednesday (Jan. 13) evening.

It was an efficient first half for the Navy and Gold, pouring in 46 points and shooting nearly 50 percent from the field. An 11-2 run in the four and a half minutes would never be erased, as the Cobras held the same nine-point lead after the first 20 minutes.

The explosive Coker offense would continue in the second half; with a Jalen Watson layup at the 16:28 mark put them ahead by 15, 55-40. However, a brief 8-0 Newberry run cut the lead back to single digits. The Cobras would respond with the hot hand of Trey Marshall, knocking down three straight threes to extend the lead to 64-48.

The teams would trade buckets and once again it was a Marshall basket that put Coker ahead by 18 points with 8:32 left in the game. Another run by the Wolves, this time a 10-0 run cut the deficit to 8 with six minutes left. The Coker lead was cut to four with just 1:51 left after a pair of Mitch Riggs free throws, however, an Aubrey Daniel made three-pointer and a pair of made free throws by Donte Samuels put the game out of reach and secured the 86-80 win.

Daniel had another excellent game, scoring 21 points and pulling down seven rebounds. Marshall had another offensive outburst, pouring in 19 points on 8-11 shooting and dishing out four assists. Stefan Osborne chipped in 11 points, while the trio of Watson, Samuels and Jake Barrett had eight points apiece. Watson also snatched down 10 rebounds.

The Cobras will be back in action on Saturday (Jan. 16) when they travel to Carson-Newman University to begin a brief two-game road trip. Tip is set for 4 p.m.

McDonald's Player of the Game – Aubrey Daniel