Brooks' buzzer-beater heroics clinch season sweep of Cobras

MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill men's basketball team (9-11, 7-7 SAC) defeated Coker (5-13, 4-10 SAC) in thrilling fashion Saturday afternoon by a score of 75-74 to complete the season sweep.

Ja'Shawn Brooks once again played hero for the Lions, draining the buzzer-beating three-pointer for the second time this season.  

The Lions began their comeback bid with 9:18 remaining in the game.  Trailing 63-46, a jumper from Jamal Bryant was the catalyst for a Mars Hill 17-1 to pull within one point with under five minutes to play.  Mars Hill reclaimed the lead with 3:47 to play.  Javonte Cooke forced a steal and on the breakaway, slammed the ball through the goal with a massive dunk.

Tied at 70 with under a minute to play, a three-pointer from Malcolm Kennedy gave Coker the lead.  Two made free throws from Brooks pulled the game within one.  The Cobras later extended their lead as KJ Harris hit one-of-two free throws with less than ten seconds to play.

As Nassyr Daniel collected the rebound, he fed the pass forward to Javonte Cooke who tossed it to Brooks just inside half court.  Brooks launched the ball over two defenders and drained the winning shot for the Lions' ninth win of the season, matching last season's total.  The shot was Brooks' lone make from the floor in the half.

Cooke was vital in the second half comeback, netting 15 of his game-high 22 points in the final 20 minutes of play.  Bryant had a masterful second half on the defensive end, collecting three rebounds and forcing one steal.  Daniel dominated play throughout, especially in the second half, recording six blocks and pulling down six rebounds.

The teams opened the contest even through the first 10 minutes of play, tied at 22 apiece.  A Cobras' 8-2 run in the middle of the frame put Coker up six points, a margin they would hold until the end of the half.  The duo of Kennedy and Dakota Jennings each netted 10 points apiece to lead all players in the first half.  

Daniel nearly collected a triple-double, dropping 11 points and pulling down 10 rebounds while blocking eight shots.  Austin Gilyard added 16 points and eight rebounds.

Mars Hill hosts Carson-Newman on Wednesday, January 5 at 7:30 p.m. inside Chambers Gymnasium to cap off their three-game homestand.