HARTSVILLE, S.C. - The Coker University men's basketball team held off South Atlantic Conference rival Newberry 74-72 for its second straight victory on Wednesday night (Jan. 22).
The Cobras jumped out to a 10-5 lead through the first four minutes, before Newberry would rally to knot the game up at 13-13 just past six minutes into the half. Newberry would continue on a run to go ahead by six, before extending their lead to 10 in the final three minutes of the first half. Coker would trim the deficit to six and later five, as a Royce Hunter three-pointer represented the final score of the opening period.
The second half would prove to be a high-scoring affair in itself, as the Cobras tied the contest up at 38 in the first three and a half minutes. The teams battled bucket-for-bucket for the next several minutes, as the under-12 media timeout came with the game tied 48-48. The Cobras carried a 52-48 into the final 10 minutes, before another Hunter three-pointer put the Cobras ahead by 10 with seven minutes to play. Yet another triple from Hunter would put the Cobras ahead 63-52 with five minutes to play, before Newberry would claw back within six with four minutes to play. The Cobras kept the Wolves at a few possessions' distance into the final two minutes, before the Wolves would fight their way back within two with 10 seconds left on an Angelo Sales, Jr. three-pointer. Hunter knocked down two free throws, before Marcus Ford hit a three-pointer to get Newberry back within one. After Chandler Lindsey made one of two free throws, Newberry final heave came up empty as the horn sounded. The Cobras out-scored Newberry 48-41 in total in the second half.
Hunter tallied a game-high 23 points in the contest, while Malcolm Kennedy added 19 and Dakota Jennings contributed 15. Two other Cobras chipped in points in the victory. Williwams Onyeodi and Hunter each pulled down a team-high six boards in the game, while six others were active on the glass in the win. Kennedy dished out a team-high five assists in the game, while five others helped on buckets in the game. Jennings led the Cobras with two steals in the game, while Hunter, Kennedy and Chris Swiney each had one steal in the contest. AJ McQuaige posted two blocks in the game, while Onyeodi and Swiney each recorded rejections in the game.
The Cobras are back on the floor on Saturday (Jan. 25) at No. 3 Lincoln Memorial in South Atlantic Conference action. Tip-off for that game is set for 4:00 p.m., with video and live stats available at www.cokercobras.com.
McDonald's Player of the Game - Royce Hunter