Brunswick, Ga. – Looking to earn a split in its weekend home games at Howard Coffin Gym, the College of Coastal Georgia men's basketball team fell tough Saturday to Bethel, losing 78-68 in a Southern States Athletic Conference game.

The game was the second for both teams after returning from their holiday breaks. Bethel (12-4 overall, 3-2 SSAC) came away with a road split after Saturday's victory. The Wildcats fell 68-65 at Brewton-Parker on Friday night.

The Mariners (3-12, 1-3) also were coming off a close loss on Friday to Blue Mountain, who pulled out a 63-58 win over the Mariners on Friday in a nip-and-tuck game.

With Saturday's loss, the Mariners have now dropped eight in a row.

The Mariners and Wildcats were locked at 37-37 at halftime before Bethel took the lead early in the second half and never gave it up, though the Mariners managed to keep it close most of the period.

The Wildcats surged to a 49-39 advantage in the opening five minutes after intermission. Coastal Georgia would climb back within a point three different times only to see the visitors hold their lead.

Bethel actually ran out to another 10-point cushion, 71-61 with 5:37 left, and Coastal Georgia wouldn't get any closer than five points over the remaining minutes while Bethel matched its largest lead twice in the closing moments.

Bethel's one-two punch of Caleb Hardy and Gary Pollard did most of the scoring for the Wildcats, pacing the team with 25 and 24 points, respectively in the victory. The two players were the only ones to reach double figures for the visitors.

The Mariners had much more balance with four players scoring in twin numbers. Obie Foreman led the Mariners with 13 points off the bench on 6-for-6 shooting while also making a foul shot.  Darrean Wyatt finished with 12 points while Reggie Burke and Andrew Reid both scored 11.

Wyatt also grabbed 13 rebounds to finish with a double-double in the loss. Reid pulled down seven rebounds for the Mariners.

Coastal Georgia will hit the road for league games next weekend at William Carey on Friday and Belhaven on Saturday.