Cochran, Ga. – The College of Coastal Georgia men's basketball team rallied after a seriously slow start here Thursday night against Middle Georgia, but the Mariners could not complete a possible come-from-behind win as they fell 63-59 to the Knights in a Southern States Athletic Conference contest.

The Mariners (3-15 overall, 0-9 SSAC) fell behind 18-0 at the start and trailed by as much as 20 points before going into intermission down 37-24 on the scoreboard.

Coastal Georgia would outscore the Knights (8-7, 3-6) after halftime while tying the score for the first time since the opening tip at 48-48 with 9:58 to play.

The Mariners would lead several times in the remaining time and the teams were deadlocked three more times before game's end.

But, the Knights got the job done down the home stretch. After Haylen Washington got the Mariners within 60-59 with 1:21 to go with an old-fashioned three-point play, the Knights turned over the ball on their next possession. But, Coastal Georgia couldn't capitalize and missed a go-ahead shot on its ensuing offensive trip.

Middle Georgia's Kieston Standfield would get fouled on his rebound attempt after a three-point miss by the Knights on their next trip and he extended the home team's lead to 62-59 with two made foul shots with 25 seconds left.

The Mariners would misfire on two three-point shots to tie the game on their next possession and Standfield made another foul shot for Middle Georgia with two seconds left to make for the final score.

Neither team shot it well from the field. Coastal Georgia shot just 28.2 percent (20-71) for the night while Middle Georgia shot 36.1 percent (22-61).

Brandon Martin led the Mariners with 17 points while Washington finished with 10 points. Jonathan Canada finished with nine points and a team-best seven rebounds in the loss.

Standfield led Middle Georgia with 17 points while also yanking down a whopping 18 rebounds including 14 off the defensive glass.

Pat Edmonds and Corbyn Moye both scored 11 points for the Knights.

Middle Georgia won despite committing 24 turnovers to 15 by the Mariners, but the Knights did outrebound Coastal Georgia 51-39 in the win.

Coastal Georgia and Middle Georgia will meet again in Brunswick on Feb. 23.

The Mariners will stay on the road to face sixth-rannked Dalton State on Saturday in an SSAC counter.