Late Comeback Falls Short at Coker

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Mars Hill lost a 97-90 decision to Coker College in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action Saturday evening at Timberlake-Lawton Gymnasium. The Lions fell to 4-17 overall and 2-14 in the SAC. The Cobras improved to 11-9 on the season and an even 8-8 in conference play.

Isaiah Cuthbertson and Thomas Anderson posted double-doubles in scoring and rebounding in the loss. Cuthbertson recorded 23 points and a game high 18 rebounds while Anderson tallied 11 points and 10 boards. Devonte Williams added 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the contest. MHU hit 42.7% (32-75) of their shots from the floor and 69% (20-29) of their free throw attempts. MHU won the battle of the boards, 51-35.

Julian Nelson led Coker with a game high 33 points going 12-22 from the floor and pulling down seven rebounds. Errick Bethel and Eren Moses added 19 and 18 points in the win, respectively. The Cobras hit 52.9% (36-68) of their shots from the floor. Coker received 34 points from their bench. The game saw six lead changes and one tie.

The Cobras jumped out to a 13-point lead (28-15) with 9:54 left in the first half after Moses hit a layup. The Lions cut the deficit to eight points (38-30) at the 3:30 mark when Williams hit a shot in the lane. After that point, Coker went on an 18-8 run to end the first frame and take a 17-point advantage (55-38) into the locker room at the intermission.

Coker scored four unanswered points to open the second half and take their largest lead of 21 points (59-38) with 19:34 left in the second stanza after Moses hit a high percentage shot in the paint. After that point the Lions would begin their comeback. Over the next 12 minutes MHU would out score Coker 34-12 to take a one-point lead (72-71) with 8:36 left in regulation after Anderson sank a pair of free throws. A jumper by Nelson on the Cobras next possession gave Coker the lead (73-72) for good with 8:26 on the clock. Coker would extend their lead to nine points with 58 ticks left after Trey Marshall hit a foul shot. A layup by Kevin Haynes with 25 seconds left in the game cut the Cobras lead to just three points (93-90) but that was as close as MHU would get. Errick Bethel sank four free throws in the final seconds to make the final score 97-90 in favor of the Cobras.

Mars Hill will play at Anderson University on February 12. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.