Savannah, Ga. - Playing an NCAA opponent for the second time this week, the College of Coastal Georgia men's basketball team fell 98-78 to Armstrong State University here Wednesday night in the first of two matchups between the teams this season.

The Mariners, who dropped to 2-4 with the loss at Alumni Arena, lost at Georgia Southern in an exhibition game on Monday night.

Wednesday's game was the home opener for the NCAA Division II Pirates who dropped their opening two games on the road.

Coastal Georgia never led, but the Mariners stayed with the Pirates early in the game, trailing just 22-17 inside the 10-minute mark of the first half.

However, Armstrong would pull away with a 23-8 run before the end of the half to take a 45-25 lead and would head to the locker room up 52-36 at the break.

The Pirates would lead by twin figures throughout the second half, going up by as much as 27 points.

Armstrong shot 50.7 percent for the game (35-69) while placing six scorers in double figures. KJ James led the home team with 20 points and 15 rebounds while Denzel Council also recorded a double-double for the third straight game with 18 points and 11 boards for the Pirates.

Armstrong dominated on the backboards, finishing with 43 rebounds to 26 by Coastal Georgia. The Pirates had 23 offensive rebounds to just 13 by the Mariners.

Coastal Georgia shot 49.2 percent (29-59), getting a season-high 32 points from Haylen Washington who was 11-for-21 from the field including 2-of-5 from three-point range and 8-for-8 from the foul line. Brandon Martin scored 17 points with five three-point buckets and one other field goal while Mabor Gabriel added 12 points in the loss for the Mariners.

The Mariners and Pirates will play again on Dec. 11 in Brunswick.

Coastal Georgia was scheduled to play at home versus Webber International on Saturday but that game has been postponed until Dec. 15.

The Mariners are now off until hosting Edward Waters on Nov. 28.