Brunswick, Ga. – The College of Coastal Georgia men's basketball team flirted with an upset of the nation's 11th-ranked team Friday night at Howard Coffin Gym before falling 94-88 to Martin Methodist in the Southern States Athletic Conference opener for both teams.
The loss dropped Coastal Georgia to 4-3 for the season while the RedHawks improved to 4-2.
In a game that featured 14 ties, the Mariners either led or were tied for all but a few moments in the second half until the final minute after erasing a seven-point deficit early in the second period.
Coastal Georgia led 88-84 with just under two minutes to play before the RedHawks scored the final 10 points to come away with a hard-earned win.
"The effort was there the whole game. We played hard, but we didn't finish plays. We have to finish," said Coastal Georgia coach Jesse Watkins.
Martin Methodist started its late push when Caleb Chowbay drilled a clutch three-pointer from the top of the key for the visitors that made it 88-87 with 1:33 to go.
Following a missed three-pointer by the Mariners on their next offensive trip, Broderick Davis was fouled and made two free throws that gave the RedHawks an 89-88 lead with just under a minute to go.
On the Mariners' next possession, SSAC leading scorer Dominic Early, who poured in a game-best 38 in the loss, missed a fade away jumper in the left corner but the Mariners did come away with the rebound, only to quickly cough up the ball on a turnover before they could reset their offense.
The miscue led to a foul that sent Davis to the line again for the RedHawks. He made his first foul shot for a 90-88 lead with 17 seconds to play but missed his second. However, the visitors came away with the loose ball off the miss which forced another Coastal Georgia foul.
This time, Chowbay made two foul shots that gave Martin Methodist a two-possession lead at 92-88 which all but ended the Mariners' chances.
The Mariners then misfired on a quick three, and after another foul in the backcourt, Chowbay added two more foul shots for the visitors to make for the final six-point margin.
In the end, Watkins said the foul count - 31 personals against the Mariners to 19 for the RedHawks – and the free-throw disparity – 29 made in 37 chances for the visitors to 17 in 25 chances for the Mariners – made for the difference in the game.
"We sent them to the line too many times. We also got beat 52-32 in rebounding. It's hard to win like that," Watkins said.
Still, the Mariners had a chance until the end due to forcing Martin Methodist into 20 turnovers while shooting 43.5 percent for the game from the floor on a 32-of-71 showing.
Early was certainly impressive going for 27 points in the first half before finishing with the season-high 38 which included 14 made foul shots in 16 opportunities as he tried to carry the Mariners to the upset-victory.
Coastal Georgia also got 15 points from Hunter DeRuiter who made five of eight three-point shots for the Mariners.
Malik Channer just missed doubles with nine points in the loss.
The RedHawks definitely had more people contributing to their offense as a total of six players finished in twin figures. Broderick Davis led the team with 21 off the bench while all five starters also reached doubles.
Darius Forrest finished with 20 points, Toderick Davis scored 18, Chowbay finished with 14 while Dacoby Burnett added 11 and Oskar Renfelds hit for 10.
Burnett finished with a team-high 12 boards to notch a double-double while Reinfelds grabbed 10 rebounds to also record a double-double.
Coastal Georgia will try to regroup in a hurry as the Mariners will host Bethel at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Wildcats (3-1), who are receiving votes for the national rankings, lost for the first time Friday night when they fell 84-71 at Brewton-Parker in their league opener.
