HARTSVILLE, SC – Coker College played its game against Belmont Abbey Saturday afternoon but couldn’t come up with enough baskets in a 62-55 men’s basketball defeat.

A well-played first half ended poorly for the Cobras (6-15, 4-10) as the Abbey pulled away for a 38-27 lead.  The Crusaders grabbed a six point lead with 31 seconds left on a jumper by Steve Williams.  CC turned the ball over on the next possession and Damien Humphrey dunked the ball to make it 35-27.  The Cobras turned it over again against the press and Greg LaVann drained a three at the buzzer to push the margin to 11 points.

Coker stayed within striking distance throughout the second half but was never able to make a decisive run.  The Cobras had sliced the margin down to six points in the final three minutes when Anthony Bell made a game-breaking play. 

The Crusaders played a patient offense to run time off the clock and two times the Cobras forced difficult shots.  But both times BAC recovered the rebound to run more time off.  On the third attempt the clock again ran all the way down but Bell bailed his team out with a one-handed heave from three-point range as the shot-clock expired.  The back-breaking shot gave the Abbey a nine point lead and when CC came up empty on the following possession, the game was all but over.

Coker did make two free-throws in the final 20 seconds but BAC hit 3-4 free-throws to ice the game.

Humphrey was a force inside with 21 points and 19 rebounds and Williams added 14 points.  LaVann had 12 points and four steals while pestering the Coker guards with stingy defense.  Junior Jason Fulwood/Cumming, GA reached double-digits for the Cobras with 17 points and classmate Johnny Jackson/Hartsville, SC added nine points before fouling out.

On Monday, February 14, Coker will travel to St. Andrews for a 7:30 PM conference matchup.