Men’s Basketball | Sat, Jan. 21, 2023 at 7:55 PM

BRUNSWICK, Ga.- The Coastal Georgia men’s basketball team (3-15, 1-8) fell just short in its 74-69 OT loss to the University of Fort Lauderdale (11-12) on Saturday night. 

Anthony Duncan and Nick Jiles led the way offensively for the Mariners, scoring 15 points and 12 points respectively. Duncan also grabbed six rebounds while Jiles dished out six assists.

Lorenzo Ferrell gave Coastal Georgia a big boost off the bench, scoring eight points and snagging 10 rebounds. Ferrell also had a poster dunk late in the second half that got the bench and fans on their feet.

Kenny Brown, Layton Veon and Torey James all recorded seven points. Brown recorded a team-high four steals while Veon grabbed five boards. Antonio Muller and Mason McMurray combined for 10 points and nine rebounds while Rodney Wiley Jr added a floater of his own to round out the scoring for the Mariners.

For the Eagles, Brahin Riley and Benez Woodard led the way with 20 points and 15 points, respectively. Riley also had 11 rebounds, seven of which were on the offensive side.

Trevon White was also in double figures, recording 10 points and also grabbed eight rebounds and five steals.

As a team, the Mariners shot the ball much better than the Eagles, hitting their shots at a 50 percent clip while the Eagles only hit 28 percent of their shots. However, 24 was Fort Lauderdale’s lucky number. They recorded 24 second-chance points on 24 offensive rebounds while forcing 24 Coastal Georgia turnovers.

It was a scrappy game by both teams and had to have an extra five minutes to decide the winner.

How It Happened:

1st Half:

  • The Eagles opened up the game with a quick 5-0 lead before the Mariners answered with an 18-3 run capped off by an Antonio Muller three-pointer which was hit just before the shot clock ran out.
  • Trevon White stopped the Mariner’s run with vicious dunks on back-to-back possessions before Coastal Georgia got back up to a 10-point lead.
  • Brahin Riley rattled off six of the next 12 Eagles points but the Mariners still lead going into the break, 29-26.

2nd Half:

  • The two teams traded buckets coming out of the half and thanks to two Aubrey Washington II three-pointers, the Eagles got their first lead of the game with 12:48 remaining.
  • After a pair of Layton Veon free throws, Torey James drained a three-pointer to regain the lead for the Mariners.
  • That three would be one of seven lead changes in the half to go along with nine-ties. Both teams continued to trade big shot after big shot down the stretch.
  • Anthony Duncan hit two clutch free throws with 29 seconds left on the clock to tie the game at 60-60.
  • The Eagles held the ball for the final shot. The gym was echoing the word ‘defense’ as fans and players screamed it while stomping their feet on the bleachers.
  • The chant worked as the Mariners held strong and forced the game into overtime.

OT:

  • Fort Lauderdale and Coastal Georgia made their first shots to bring the game to 62-62.
  • Then Aubrey Washington II hit his third three-pointer of the game before Kenny Brown answered right back with a three of his own.
  • Benez Woodard, who had been limping most of the second half but played through the pain, drilled a three-pointer with the shot clock winding down to give the Eagles the lead again.
  • However, this time the Mariners were unable to answer back. Coastal Georgia had its shot with under a minute left but couldn’t capitalize and Woodard would sink four straight free throws to put the game out of reach.

UP NEXT: The Mariners will host Ave Maria on Thursday, Jan. 26 in the Coffin Gym at 7:30 p.m.

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