Cole And Harris Lead Coker Past Catawba

SALISBURY, NC. - Sebastian Cole and Xavier Harris each poured in double digits in the second half to help Coker pick up a big road win Wednesday night over Catawba 93-88. The Cobras outscored the Catawba Indians in both halves to help Coker avenge an earlier season loss to Catawba.

BY THE NUMBERS:
Score: Coker 93, Catawba 88
Records: Coker 16-7 (12-7) | Catawba 14-9 (11-8)
Location: Salisburry, NC. | Abernethy Physical Education Center

TOP PERFORMERS:
Sebastian Cole: 19pts, 3ast, 2stl
Xavier Harris:15pts, 4ast, 2reb
Jamie Muldowney: 15pts, 4reb

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Sebastian Cole got the scoring started for the second straight game Wednesday night when he put in a jumper 20 seconds into the game. After a Catawba basket, Ian Blue scored back to back jumpers to give Coker an early lead. The Cobras defense was stout early as they forced Catawba into two early turnovers. 

Max Hurray checked in with the Cobras second unit, and quickly added five points off the bench for Coker. In a low scoring first 10 minutes for the Cobras, it was the defense that helped Coker keep an early lead. With a little under 11 minutes remaining Coker found themselves leading 20-18. 

For the next seven minutes the two teams traded baskets, and after a Max Hurray layup, Coker tied the game at 35. Over the course of the final four minutes, Coker outscored the Catawba Indians 10-7, as Sebastian Cole, Xavier Harris, Jonah Vaysbakh, and Jamie Muldowney all scored during that time frame. At the break, it was Coker leading 45-42. The Cobras shot 54.8 percent from the field in the first half, with only four three pointers falling. The Cobras forced Catawba into nine first half turnovers, and assisted on seven baskets. Cole's 9 first half points led the way for Coker, as Hurray and Muldowney each added 7 a piece. 

In the second half, it was Catawba going on an early 6-0 run to retake the lead before Ian Blue made a three pointer to tie things at 48. The two teams traded baskets throughout the early stages of the second half, and it was Coker holding a 65-64 lead at the under 12 media timeout following a Harris three pointer. Out of the break, Harris then added back to back layups, with the second being an and one, extending Coker's lead to 7. 

The Cobras continued to build on that lead that Harris created as Coan, Cole, and Hurray each added points to the scoreboard in favor of the visitors over the next two minutes. By the time the two teams made it to the under 8 media timeout, it was Coker holding onto a 7 point lead at 77-70. 

Catawba quickly erased that lead, and after a three pointer with four minutes remaining, took a 85-88 lead. The Cobras then came down the floor, set up the offense, and Logan Murray drove to the middle of the paint before kicking it back out behind the arc, where Harris buried yet another big second half shot to tie the game. Coker then forced back to back turnovers, and capitalized on each, as Landon Butler made a driving layup, followed by a Cole three pointer to give Coker the lead. After Catawba split a pair of free throws to cut the lead to three with 11 seconds left, Judson Coan made a pair of free throws to ice the game for Coker. 

Coker shot 56.1 percent from the floor on the night, and added nine second half threes to help take down Catawba. The Cobras forced 14 turnovers on the night, as Coan had a team best 3 steals. Harris and Butler led the way for Coker in the assist column, as Coker recorded 16 on the night. Sebastian Cole led all scorers with 19 on the night, while Xavier Harris, Jamie Muldowney, and Max Hurray all scored in double figures. 

NOTABLES:

Coker now moves into a three way tie for third place in SAC standings with Carson-Newman and UVA Wise following Wednesdays win. 

The Cobras are now 4-0 when Xavier Harris scores in double digits.

UP NEXT:
Coker continues their road swing Saturday when they travel to Limestone for a 4:00 p.m. tipoff. 

#GoCobras