HARTSVILLE, SC – Coker had a shot to tie or win on their final possession against St. Andrews Presbyterian College but couldn’t get a shot off, falling 76-74 in men’s collegiate basketball.  The Cobras drop to 5-8, 3-3 in the CVAC, while the Knights improve to 8-5 and 2-4 in the conference. 

After a slow start by both teams things began to pick up in the later stages of the opening period.  Coker showed its grit by battling back from a 29-20 deficit with 6:00 minutes to play to grab a 37-35 lead with 1:17 left.  St. Andrews tied the game on a pair of David Truesdale free throws and the teams went into the locker rooms tied at 37-37.

It was nip-tuck in the second half with the largest lead of the period belonging to Coker at 52-45 with 13:41 showing.  The Knights regained a 61-60 lead five minutes later but CC came back again for a 69-68 lead with 4:24 to play. 

The turning point came on the next three possessions when SAPC sandwiched a defensive stop between a pair of Bobby Short three-pointers.  The outburst led to a 74-69 advantage for the visitors and a timeout called by Coker.

A free throw from Abram Ludd/Sumter, SC and buckets from seniors Jamie Jenkins/Columbia, SC and Jay Farrow/Sanford, NC tied the game again at 74-74 with 24 seconds left.  St. Andrews called a timeout and then went to their big man, Chad Eichelberger. 

Eichelberger received the ball in the post and when he couldn’t advance towards the basket, spun towards the baseline and hit a fade-away jumper for a 76-74 advantage.  The possession didn’t take up much of the clock, however, and CC had one final chance with seven seconds left. 

Coker’s designed play was thwarted by good defense by the Knights and when the ball reached point guard Ryan Queen’s/Philadelphia, PA hands there was little he could do.  Queen’s errant pass rolled out of bounds as the clock expired and CC was unable to get a shot off.

Queen led the way with 14 points and junior Johnny Jackson/Hartsville, SC added 13 points, two rebounds and two assists.  Jenkins finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists and junior Jason Fulwood/Cumming, GA had 12 points on four three pointers.

Eichelberger and Truesdale both tallied 14 points for the Knights and Short added 13 points.  Truesdale also had eight rebounds and Eichelberger blocked two shots.

The Cobras travel to Barton College on Tuesday, January 18, for a 7:30 tip-off.