Mars Hill sweeps Coker with win on road

HARTSVILLE, S.C. - The Mars Hill men's basketball team (9-11, 3-9 SAC) completed the season sweep of Coker (3-17, 1-12 SAC) with an 87-70 victory Saturday evening on the road.

The Lions opened up the contest scoring eight of the first 10 points with Javonte Cook scoring six in that span.  Coker responded by scoring five straight to cut the deficit to one, however, Mars Hill answered back with a 9-2 run to go up 17-9 with 13:46 left in the half.  A Tavion Trimble dunk with 9:06 remaining in the first frame gave Mars Hill their first double-digit lead of the night, going up 25-14.  The Lions would enter the half up 15 points, leading Coker by a score of 44-29.

The Lions outshot Coker 53 percent to 38 percent in the half while shooting 50 percent (3-of-6) from beyond the arc.  Both Cook and Reggie Wright scored nine points apiece for Mars Hill in the opening 20 minutes.  Roy Ellis led the Cobras with seven points, followed by AJ McQuaige's six.   

Mars Hill continued to dominate play in the second half, shooting over 58 percent from the floor and maintaining their double-digit lead for the duration of the half.  Ja'Shawn Brooks exploded for 14 points in the half while Coker's offense was led by Marquis Green's 13 points.  With 9:14 played in the half, the Lions built their largest lead, 66-46, off of a Matthew Powell three-pointer.  Coker went on a 9-2 run to pull within 13, but the Lions countered with their own 9-2 run to rebuild their 20-point lead.

Down by 24 with 1:19 remaining, the Cobras reeled off seven straight points, but the large Mars Hill lead held true as the Lions claimed their second win over the Cobras this season and their second straight win.

Green led all players with 18 points for Coker, hitting four three-pointers. LaDarius Williams added 12 points off the bench. 

Four different Lions ended the contest in double-figures, led by Brooks' 17 on the night.  Cook finished the game with 16 points and a team-high eight rebounds.  Wright and Nassyr Daniel each added 11 points.

Mars Hill returns to action on Wednesday, February 6th when they take on the Eagles of Carson-Newman.  Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.