BRUNSWICK, Ga.- The Coastal Georgia men's basketball team (4-15, 2-8) got its second Sun Conference win of the season on Thursday night as they took down Ave Maria University (11-10, 4-7) by a score of 66-61.

The Mariners were led by Mason McMurray who found his shot, recording 19 points on 7-12 shooting including 4-7 from the three-point line.

Including McMurray, seven Mariners recorded five or more points in the win. No one else reached double figures, but it was a true team effort.

Kenny Brown, Anthony Duncan and Torey James each recorded nine points. Brown had three big steals to go along with his scoring outburst.

Layton Veon, Nick Jiles and Antonio Muller rounded out the rest of the major scorers. Veon finished with eight points including a huge three-pointer on the right wing and then a big dunk just a few possessions later. Muller recorded five points and his on-ball defense was good as ever, helping the Mariners force 19 Gyrenes turnovers.

Jiles had an off-night shooting the ball but more than made up for it as he led the team with 10 rebounds and nine assists before fouling out late in the second half.

For the Gyrenes, Chayse Culpepper continued his strong stretch of play, dropping in 17 points and dishing out seven assists while also recording four steals. Klajd Kiri and Miles Monchecourt also finished with double-digit points, dropping in 13 and 11, respectively.

As a team, the Gyrenes outrebounded the Mariners 41-31, but Coastal Georgia won the turnover battle 19-14. The Mariners also shot 38.5 percent from three while Ave Maria shot just 26.1 percent from deep.

How It Happened:

1^st Half:

• Nick Jiles got the scoring started, nailing a three-pointer off a Kenny Brown assist. A few possessions later, Jiles returned the favor as this time Brown would hit the three off his backcourt mate's pass to put the Mariners up 8-4.
• Anthony Duncan and Kiri Klajd would trade baskets during the ensuing stretch of play with Duncan recording the next five Mariner points and Klajd the next four Gyrenes points.
• Kiri scored 10 of his 13 points in the first half and both Duncan and Brown scored seven of their nine points in the half.
• The Mariners were up 27-19 with 4:40 remaining in the half following a big three by Antonio Muller before the Gyrenes answered back with a 12-0 that came to end following a Mason McMurray three at the end of the half.
• Ave Maria went into the locker room up 31-30.

2^nd Half:

• Coastal Georgia came out of the break on an 18-3 run to take a 48-34 lead.
• Layton Veon, Torey James and McMurray were all a part of four straight three-pointers for the Mariners. McMurray got the party started and then Veon and James also hit their threes before McMurray closed the run with another three.
• The Mariners were up as many as 16 in the second half with just under 10 minutes to play for Ave Maria made it interesting.
• The Gyrenes went on an 11-1 run, which was fueled by four straight Chayse Culpepper, cut the Mariners lead within four.
• The Mariners have been in many situations like this during the season and have been on the wrong end of the final outcome, however, the team stayed together and was composed during the final 2:20 of the game.
• In fitting fashion, McMurray hammered in the nail of the Gyrenes' coffin with a huge dunk off a Lorenzo Ferrell pass.
• The Mariners took the game 66-61 as they, like the women's team, continue their bid for the Sun Conference Tournament.

Coaches Corner:

Throughout the season Head Coach Jesse Watkins' team has been in a similar position as the one they were in tonight: close game at the half, open up a big lead, and then see that little dwindle as the opposing team takes control of the game. However, that did not happen tonight. Coastal Georgia's resolve was strong, and their team chemistry showed through the body language and actions of each man on the sideline. When asked about how he will be enjoying tonight Watkins said:

"I will have my Joe Burrow moment."