Valley Falls, SC - In a thrilling matchup, the Coker basketball team faced off against USC Upstate on December 30, 2023. Despite putting up a valiant effort, Coker ultimately fell short, losing to USC Upstate with a final score of 96-76.

From the opening tip-off, it was clear that both teams came to play. The first half was a back-and-forth battle, with USC Upstate taking a slight edge heading into halftime with a score of 44-38. Coker's Demar Anderson and Andre Leavell led the charge for their team, combining for 16 points in the first half.

However, USC Upstate came out firing on all cylinders in the second half. USC Upstate's offense exploded, outscoring Coker 52-38 in the final 20 minutes of the game.

Despite the loss, Coker had several standout performances. Mahmoud Bangura led the team in scoring with 20 points, shooting an impressive 6-of-8 from the field. He was a force to be reckoned with, consistently getting to the free-throw line and converting his opportunities.

Although the outcome wasn't what Coker had hoped for, there were several positives to take away from the game. The team showed resilience and fought until the final whistle, never giving up despite facing a deficit. The players displayed great chemistry on the court, finding ways to create scoring opportunities for each other.

Looking ahead, Coker will use this game as a learning experience and motivation to improve. They will continue to work hard in practice, focusing on defensive adjustments and executing their offensive game plan with precision.