CONWAY, S.C.-In impressive fashion, Coastal Carolina University defeated Coker College 86-50, to earn its first victory of the 2004 season at Kimbel Arena Sunday afternoon. With the win, the Chants improve to 1-6, while the Cobras fall to 2-4.

CCU took the lead early and didn’t look back, holding the Cobras to only five points until midway through the first half. Coastal was sparked by junior Pale Paelay (Derwood, Md./Magruder) scoring 19 points before the intermission, shooting 7-for-9 from the field, and 3-for-5 from the three-point arc. From that, the Chants took a 48-23 lead into the locker room.

The Cobras came out firing in the second half as Jason Fulwood drained back-to-back three pointers to spark a Coker run that cut the lead to 19 at 56-37 with 14:26 to play. However, the Chanticleers put the game out of reach, going on a 14-4 run of their own over the next 6:30.

The Chants were in the sharing mood recording 23 assists, a season high, to go with a season-high 86 points. Defense was the name of the game for the Chants as they converted 19 Coker turnovers for 23 points, while only giving up the ball nine times. On the offensive side of the ball, CCU shot 61.5 percent from the field, another season best, while outrebounding the visitors 28-16.

Paelay led the Chants’ scoring with 21, while sophomore Moses Sonko (East Greenwich, R.I./Classical) and freshman Jack Leasure (Rochester, N.Y./McQuaid Jesuit) each had 17 points, with Sonko’s a season high. Senior Alvin Green (Myrtle Beach, S.C./Socastee) was also effective, dishing out a season-high nine assists and grabbing a career-best eight rebounds. Coker was led by Fulwood, who was the only Cobra in double figures with 12.

The Cobras are off now until after Christmas, when they travel to play in the Winter Park (FL) Rotary Tangerine Tournament, on December 29-30.  Coker will play host Rollins College at 8:00 PM on the 29th and will then face either Francis Marion or Bentley on the 30th.