Coker Downs Lenoir-Rhyne in Conference Opener

HARTSVILLE, SC- The Coker College men's basketball team downed the visiting Lenoir-Rhyne University Bears by a 88-75 final in their South Atlantic Conference opener Wednesday (Nov. 29) night. 

The Cobras used a 17-2 run to rally back from an early deficit and cut the Lenoir-Rhyne lead to just 37-35 at halftime.  Marquis Green scored eight points during the rally, and finished the night with a team-high 19 points on 6-9 shooting from the field, including a 3-5 mark from behind the three-point line. 

The Bears extended their lead early in the second half, but the Cobras used a 14-2 run to jump ahead 55-47. After falling behind by as much as 16 points, Lenoir-Rhyne was able to cut the lead to seven with 4:45 to play. Coker managed to hit 22 of their 26 free throws on the night, preventing the Bears from completing the comeback. 

After losing the rebound battle 19-17 in the first half, Coker managed to grab a 17-9 rebound advantage in the second frame.  Donte Samuels led the defense by recording three steals and seven rebounds. 

Five Coker players finished the night in double-figures on the evening.  Samuels scored 16 points on the night, and was a perfect 4-4 from the field and 4-4 from the free throw line in the second half. 

Coker will be back in action on Saturday (Dec. 2) when they host Southern Wesleyan at 4 p.m. in the DeLoach Center at Dan Schmotzer Court.   

McDonald's Player of the Game - Marquis Green