Atlanta, Ga. – The College of Coastal Georgia men's basketball team dropped its final game prior to the Christmas break, falling 86-81 Saturday at Carver Bible College.

The loss was the second this season for the Mariners against the Cougars who won the first meeting between the teams 71-69 on Nov. 14 in Brunswick.

The loss also was the eighth in a row for the Mariners (4-10) after a 4-2 start to the season.

Coastal Georgia coach Jesse Watkins said the Mariners must regroup after taking this coming week off. The team will return to practice the following week to prepare for its road games in Mississippi against Blue Mountain on Jan. 2 and William Carey on Jan. 4.

All upcoming games are Southern States Athletic Conference games for Coastal Georgia.

"Hopefully this break will be good for us," Watkins said. "We need to bond as a team. We're not playing together. We're playing as individuals.

"Today, we just didn't play well. Our defense has slacked off from where it was at the beginning of the season. Our defensive intensity needs to pick back up. Guys need to buy in again."

Coastal Georgia trailed 33-32 after the opening 20 minutes. The Cougars won the second half 53-49.

For the game, Dominic Early led the Mariners with 19 points.

Corey Harris scored 14 points for the Mariners while Carey Walker added 13. Jamaal Rhodes hit three three-point shots in the second half to finish with nine points.

The Cougars got a game-high 27 points from Brannon Hopkins.

Saveyon Edwards scored 19 points for Carver, Richelieu Hayes finished with 14 and Jamil Saaka scored 12.

Derrick Frye led the Mariners with nine rebounds. Rhodes grabbed seven boards.

Harris finished the game with eight assists for Coastal Georgia while Malik Channer had five.

The Mariners made 31 of their 36 field-goal attempts, but committed 26 turnovers in the loss.