HARTSVILLE, S.C. – In a spectacular triple overtime game, the Coker men's basketball team took down the league leading Bulldogs of Barton, 94-90, on Wednesday (Feb. 6) night in Conference Carolinas men's basketball action. The win moves the Cobras to 11-9 overall and 8-6 in conference play.
Eren Moses scored the final seven points of the game, giving Coker the lead and the eventual win over Barton, previously ranked No. 12 nationally according to the Division II coaches poll.
Barton led by as much as eight points in the first half, but Coker battled their way back to take a one-point lead, 30-29, into the locker room at halftime. The battle continued in the second half, as neither team gained more than a three-point advantage, until a 3-pointer by Bryce Arnott with 1:53 left gave the Cobras their largest lead of the game, 64-58. Barton was not ready to throw in the towel just yet, as they mounted a 10-3 run down the stretch, tying the game at 67 and sending it to overtime.
In the first overtime period the Cobras jumped out to a 75-70 lead, but another late run by the Bulldogs closed the gap and tied the game at 77 and forced a second overtime. Both teams exchanged baskets during the second overtime and after another five minutes the score remained tied at 84.
Barton took a four-point lead, 88-84, to start the third overtime, but this time it was Coker that made the comeback with a 10-2 run in the final four minutes giving the Cobras the 94-90 victory.
Moses and Bryce Arnott were the Cobras' leading scorers with 17 points and five rebounds each. Arnott also had four assists. Sharod Williams and Larry Felder each had a double-double. Williams had 15 points with 12 rebounds and Felder scored 13 points with 10 rebounds. Julian Nelson added 16 points and eight rebounds and Errick Bethel knocked down 10 points with five assists.
As a team the Cobras out rebounded the Bulldogs 50-45 and they scored 27 points off the bench.
Coker returns to the court on Saturday (Feb. 9) on the road at North Greenville. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.
McDonald's Player of the Game- Eren Moses
