Brunswick, Ga. – The College of Coastal Georgia men's basketball team lost another tough one Saturday afternoon as it fell 87-84 to Bethel in a Southern States Athletic Conference game at Howard Coffin Gym.
Coastal Georgia had a chance to tie the game at the end, and Malik Channer drilled a three-point shot from the left wing that appeared to even the score and send the game into overtime. However, the officials quickly ruled that Channer did not get the shot off before the final horn and called off the basket, sending Coastal Georgia to a second tough defeat on back-to-back days to open SSAC play.
Coastal Georgia (4-4 overall, 0-2 league) was coming off a 94-88 loss on Friday to No. 11 Martin Methodist in a game the Mariners led late.
Bethel improved to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the conference with the win. The Wildcats dropped their SSAC opener Friday at Brewton-Parker.
Against the Wildcats, the Mariners mounted a furious rally to give themselves a chance at a come-from-behind win as they trailed 64-41 with just over 11 minutes to go.
Coastal Georgia, causing Bethel problems with its full-length pressure defense, chipped away at its deficit until taking an 82-80 lead on a three-pointer by Carey Walker with 1:38 to play.
The teams were even at 84 when the game reached the final minute.
Coastal Georgia missed a shot for the lead with 44 seconds left and Bethel went up 86-84 on a basket in the paint by Eddie Green with 18 seconds left.
The Mariners missed a three on their next trip and fouled Bethel's Justin Scott. Scott missed his first foul shot and made the second for an 87-84 lead with just seconds left.
Coastal Georgia managed to push the ball into its frontcourt and called timeout to set up a play. The inbound pass went to Channer just in front of the Coastal bench. The sophomore guard had to dribble to avoid a defender and he rattled in a three as the final horn was sounding that was ruled to be too late.
For the game, Dominic Early led all scorers with 22 points for Coastal. Others scoring in double figures were Corey Harris (19), Channer (12) and Milton Geddes (10).
Geddes also blocked four shots and had six boards. Walker led the Mariners on the glass with nine rebounds.
Bethel placed four players in double figures. Green led the team with 17 points.
Bethel had 47 rebounds to 33 by Coastal Georgia.
The Mariners cost themselves at the foul line where they were just 22-of-40 for the game including just 4-of-13 in the opening half.
Coastal Georgia will go to Valdosta State Friday for a game against Lee before playing the host Blazers on Saturday.
