Brunswick, Ga. – The College of Coastal Georgia men's basketball team played perhaps its best 20 minutes of basketball Monday night in the second half of its game against Brewton-Parker, and the gritty effort by the Mariners definitely paid off as they came from behind to knock off the Barons 79-75 at Howard Coffin Gym.
Getting strong support from a raucous crowd on "White Out" night, the Mariners (5-21) stormed back from a 14-point deficit early in the second half to win for the fifth time this season and the second time in the last three games at home.
Coastal Georgia, which trailed 41-30 at intermission, got within four points of the Barons (9-19) in the first five minutes of the second half, but didn't catch the visitors until tying the score 57-57 with 8:57 left on a second-chance bucket by Marcus Morrison.
The Mariners would lead by as much as six at two different times coming down the stretch, but both times the Barons came back to tie the score. The teams were actually tied five different times in the final minutes, including 74-74 with 1:33 to play when Jose Davilla made one of two foul shots for Brewton-Parker.
Morrison quickly gave the Mariners a 76-74 lead with a driving basket in the paint on the other end with 1:10 to play. Davilla got fouled on the Barons' next possession and made one of two free throws to make it 76-75 just inside the final minute.
A turnover by Coastal Georgia on its offensive end then gave the Barons a chance to go back in front, but Davilla missed the potential go-ahead bucket for the Barons and Coastal Georgia's Morrison rebounded the ball with 21 seconds left. Following a timeout by the Mariners, point guard Reggie Burke was fouled in the backcourt on the inbound play. Burke went to the foul line at the other end and calmly made his free throws for a 78-75 CCGA advantage.
With the Barons needing a three-pointer to tie, the Barons decided instead to go for a quick two, but Davilla misfired again and Morrison again came away with the rebound for the Mariners and was promptly fouled with nine seconds to go.
Morrison made one of two foul shots to seal what was an improbable comeback win for Coastal Georgia based on the Mariners' play in the first half when they shot just 32 percent and trailed 35-13 after the first 13 minutes.
Coastal Georgia made a late surge, though, in the final two minutes of the opening half when it was still down by 15, getting two big three-pointers from sophomore walk-on Ethan Floyd that helped the Mariners pull within 41-30 at the halftime break and get in position for the second-half rally.
For the game, Morrison led the Mariners with a season-high 30 points and 16 rebounds with 23 of his points coming in the second half. Burke finished with 16 points for Coastal Georgia and Kentorey Johnson added 13 before fouling out.
Floyd added another trey after halftime and finished with nine points for the Mariners.
The Barons got 22 points from Darrie Stephens who was 16-for-18 from the foul line. Davilla finished with 20, Wendell Williams scored 14 and Yan Moukoury added 11 in defeat.
The Barons, who have lost four straight, are members of the Southern States Athletic Conference which the Mariners will join next season.
