GAFFNEY, SC — Coker’s men’s basketball team held on for an exciting 69-66 win at Limestone College Thursday night.  The Cobras led for much of the game but endured some tense moments down the stretch before pulling it out at the foul line. Coker improves to 3-6 overall and 1-1 in conference, while Limestone drops to 4-5, 1-2 in CVAC play.
 
Junior Jason Fulwood/Cumming, GA set the tone for the night by drilling a three-pointer on CC’s first possession for a quick 3-0 lead.  The two teams remained fairly even for most of the first half and the Cobras took a 28-21 advantage into the break.

Another three from Fulwood gave Coker a 31-23 in the opening minute of the second period but Limestone went on a 13-3 run to take their third lead of the game at 36-34.  After a field goal by senior Jamie Jenkins/Columbia, SC tied the game again at 36-36, Fulwood struck again to put the Cobras out front again by three.

Coker stayed out front for the next 12 minutes but the Saints didn’t go away and eventually caught up with their visitors.  Substitute Alex Bailey calmly drained a pair of free throws with 1:34 left to put LC back in front 65-64 and the momentum appeared to have swung back in their favor. 

Fulwood’s three-pointer on the following possession missed the target but senior Andre Blackwell/Bethune, SC grabbed the offensive rebound.  Blackwell found classmate Ryan Queen/Philadelphia, PA wanted beyond the three-point arc and Queen buried a clutch three-ball for a 67-65 Coker lead.

The Saints had a chance to tie the game at the foul line but the first of two attempts by Ben Touchberry clanged off the rim.  Blackwell redeemed sophomore Vance Caraway/Charlotte, NC following his missed free-throw by collecting his second big offensive rebound.  Limestone fouled Caraway again after the rebound but this time the point guard dropped both shots through for the 69-66 win.

Fulwood finished with a team-high 17 points on 5-9 shooting from three-point range.  Jenkins added 16 points and Queen totaled nine points, five assists and two steals.  Marquintus Jones led the way for LC with 25 points, including a 14-15 effort from the foul line. 

Coker will now host CVAC-rival Lees-McRae on Saturday, January 8, at 4:00 PM.