Mobile, Ala. – The College of Coastal Georgia men's basketball team picked up a historic victory Saturday afternoon, pulling out a 72-71 win at Spring Hill for its first-ever victory in the Southern States Athletic Conference.
Playing in the league for the first time this season as a second-year member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, the Mariners topped the Badgers on a late foul shot by sophomore forward Dustin Henry for their first conference win after starting league play with five straight losses.
"Finally, that monkey is off our back," said veteran Coastal Georgia coach Gerald Cox.
The win was just the third this season for the Mariners (3-13 overall, 1-5 SSAC) who also had lost four games in a row since a victory at Edward Waters on Dec. 8.
At Spring Hill (3-14, 2-4), the Mariners struggled at the start, falling behind 7-0 in the opening moments and getting down 34-23 late in the first half before outscoring the Badgers 14-7 over the final 3:27 of the first period to pull within 41-37 at the halftime break.
Still, the Mariners got down by as much as eight points after intermission and continued to trail on the scoreboard until finally catching the Badgers at 64-64 on a pair of Kentorey Johnson free throws with 6:04 to go.
The Mariners surged ahead 68-64 with 3:49 to play, but Spring Hill scored the game's next five points to move back in front 69-68 with 2:30 left.
Reggie Burke drew the Mariners even at 69-69 with 1:36 to play by making one of two foul shots, but the Badgers went back up on their next possession on a bucket by Robert Gipson with 1:05 left.
But undaunted as the game reached the final minute, the Mariners tied the score again at 71-71 on a basket by Jevan Billinger with 50 seconds remaining.
The Badgers worked to get a driving layup on their next trip, but the shot was off the mark and Kostas Ezomo rebounded the ball for the Mariners.
With the ball in his hands, Burke, the point guard for the Mariners who had already hit two game-winning shots this season, pulled up for a three-point shot from the top of the key that missed everything as the clocked worked toward the final horn. But luckily for the Mariners, Dustin Henry was there to pick up the loose ball under the goal and he was fouled on his stickback attempt with just one second to go.
Needing to make just one of the two foul shots that were coming his way to give the Mariners the lead, Henry made the first attempt after back-to-back timeouts by Spring Hill in hopes of icing him.
The Badgers rebounded Henry's missed second shot, and they could only heave a desperation shot the length of the floor as the buzzer sounded.
Finally, the Mariners had broken into the win column in the SSAC.
For the game, Burke led all scorers with 20 points for the Mariners.
Billinger easily had his best game of the season as he finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds on a night when he made his first-ever start.
"He took advantage of his opportunity, and obviously he really helped us win the game," Cox said.
Johnson and P.J. Reason both contributed 10 points in the victory.
Spring Hill got 14 points from Robert Drummond in defeat.
Coastal Georgia will remain on the road Wednesday for a league game at rival Brewton-Parker.
