Augusta, Ga. – The College of Coastal Georgia men's basketball team dropped an 89-85 decision to Augusta University Thursday in a non-conference meeting for both teams.

The Mariners (4-9) were down by 82-70 with 2:29 to go but made a late run on the strength of three three-point baskets by Jamaal Rhodes to get within 84-81 inside the final minute. However, the Jaguars (3-3) made five of six foul shots down the stretch to hold off Coastal Georgia for the victory.

For the game, the Mariners got 34 points from leading scorer Dominic Early while Rhodes finished with 16 and Marquice Jones added 10.

The Jaguars, who compete regularly in NCAA Division II, got a game-high 43 points from Keshun Sherrill.

Both teams shot it well as the Mariners finished shooting exactly 50 percent (27-54) from the field while Augusta shot 56.4 percent (31-55).

Joshua Thompson led the Mariners with nine rebounds. Corey Harris notched five assists.

Tommy Williams scored 15 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for a double-double for the Jaguars.

Augusta built a 35-18 cushion with just over three minutes to go before halftime, only to see the Mariners close with a surge to cut their deficit to 41-34 at the halftime break.

The Jaguars tried to run away from the Mariners in the first few minutes after halftime, jumping out to a 51-40 advantage in the opening 3:10 of the second half.

The Mariners, though, chipped away at their deficit until going in front on a Derrick Frye bucket with 10:44 to play that made it 58-57.

Augusta would build its lead back to 80-68 with just over three minutes to go which proved to be too big a deficit for the Mariners to overcome with their late rally.

The Mariners will close out their pre-Christmas schedule with a game at Carver College Saturday in Atlanta.