HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker College men's basketball team fell to the visiting Lenoir-Rhyne University Bears on Wednesday night (Jan. 18) in a South Atlantic Conference matchup by a score of 78-73. 

The opening half was all Cobras, as they shot nearly 50 percent from the field, 57 percent from behind the arc and held as high as a 19-point lead. The two sides departed for the locker rooms at halftime, with Coker holding a 48-37 advantage.

The Bears clawed their way back, closing the deficit to single digits at the 11:26 mark in the second half. The momentum stayed on the side of Lenoir-Rhyne, as the Bears took a 66-65 lead at the 6:18 mark. The one-point Coker deficit remained until the 3:07 mark, when a three by Lenoir-Rhyne lifted the Bears up by four. They would go on to pick up the road win by a score of 78-73.

JaQuez Motley led the way with 17 points. Deshaun Leftwich finished with 13 points on the bench, while Nathan Lemke recorded 11 points and eight rebounds.

The Cobras will be back in action on Saturday to host Lincoln Memorial. Opening tip is set for 4 p.m.