HARTSVILLE, SC – Coker couldn’t quite pull off an upset against Pfeiffer University Monday night, falling 113-108 in overtime.  The Cobras are 5-11 overall and 3-6 in the CVAC, while Pfeiffer moves to 11-3, 7-1 in the conference.

Pfeiffer built a 49-45 halftime lead behind 17 points from big man Damien Argrett.  The high-scoring Falcons shot 59 percent in the period but the Cobras stayed within range by shooting 52 percent and converting 11 PU turnovers into 13 points.

The second half was just as entertaining despite numerous foul calls slowing down the game.  The Cobras battled back from six points down with 14 minutes remaining and took a 76-69 lead on a jumper by senior Jamie Jenkins/Columbia, SC.

Pfeiffer kept the pressure up by connecting on 11-15 free throws in the last nine minutes, but the Cobras hit clutch shot after shot to stay just in front.  The turning point of the game came in the final 1:10, when CC went to the foul line twice but only came away with two points out of a possible four. 

After Jay Farrow/Sanford, NC made the second of two attempts for a 101-98 with 44 seconds left, Pfeiffer’s Rico Grier made Coker pay by draining a pull-up three pointer with 35 seconds left.  The Cobras ran the clock down, but a three-pointer by Johnny Jackson/Hartsville, SC missed the mark and sent the game to overtime.

The Falcons scored the first four points in OT but CC bounced back to take a 108-105 advantage.  On the next possession Rick Buffaloe got open in the corner and drained a game-tying three pointer.  Coker missed on their next two possessions and Pfeiffer regained the lead on a free throw by Craig Thomas and then two more from Grier. 

For the second time this year, the Cobras had the ball on the last possession and couldn’t get a shot off.  This time a turnover in the final 10 seconds gave the Falcons a layup to end the game.  

Senior Michael Pierce/Whiteville, NC scored 20 points with five rebounds, three assists and four steals before fouling out late in the game.  Jackson tallied 17 points and five rebounds, while Farrow and Mark Duncan/Graham, TX added 15 points apiece.  Jenkins had 12 points and four boards and junior Jason Fulwood/Cumming, GA knocked down 4-6 three balls for 12 points.

The big three did it again for PU with Grier pouring in 35 points and collecting five rebounds.  Argrett finished with 24 points and seven boards, while the younger Grier, DeMario, tallied 18 points and two steals.

Both teams shot 56.7 percent from the field and turned the ball over 17 times.  Pfeiffer held a slim 36-30 edge in rebounding and connected on 34-51 free throws compared to 18-26 for the Cobras.

CC will now host Queens University of Charlotte this Saturday, January 29, at 4:00 PM.