COCHRAN, Ga. - The College of Coastal Georgia men's basketball team fell in their season opener on Tuesday night, losing by a 72-56 final score to the Middle Georgia State Knights in Cochran. 

Thaddeus Burns got the Mariners (0-1) offense rolling early with back-to-back three pointers to begin the game, putting CCGA ahead of the Knights (1-0) 6-2. Burns once again hit a jumper to score the first eight points for CCGA, but MGSU tied the game right back up at eight a piece on a layup from Nick Cham with 16:56 on the clock in the first half. Over the next five minutes of game time, the Knights went on an 18-5 run shooting 7-9 from the field and 3-5 from three during that stretch to take a commanding 24-13 lead with 11:41 remaining in the half. 

Kaden McArthur made a layup to stop the run and later in the half D'Andre Jefferson knocked down a three ball and Jeremiah Camara added a layup of his own to get the Mariners back in the game and cut the lead to seven. 

Once again the Knights stifled the momentum built by the Mariners, and over the final nine minutes of the first half, MGSU went on a 20-9 run to close the half shooting 10-19 from the field. When it was all said and done, the Knights took a 47-29 lead into the break. 

McArthur led the way for the Mariners in the half with nine points on 4-7 shooting and 1-2 from three. Burns added eight and Sal Wilson added five to pace the Mariners in scoring. Camara added four points to go along with a team leading four rebounds. 

CCGA shot a very efficient 42 percent from the field and 40 percent from three but allowed the Knights to shoot 53 percent from the field and committed nine turnovers in the half. 

For the first three minutes of the second half, both teams traded baskets with MGSU holding a 52-34 lead with 17:34 left in the game. At that point, both teams went ice cold from the floor for the next two minutes of game time with MGSU's Milique Smith breaking the cold streak with a jumper to extend the Knights lead. With five minutes left in the game, the Mariners played their best stretch of the game going on a 7-2 run over three minutes of game time getting contributions from D'ontaye Strawter, David Felix, and Burns to cut the lead down to 19. Over the final 5:41 of game time, the Mariners outscored the Knights 12-4 and shot 4-9 from the field, but it was too little too late as the Knights took the season opener by a 72-56 final. 

McArthur led the Mariners in scoring with 13 on the night on 6-12 shooting. Burns added 11 of his own while Wilson finished with 10. Camara finished as the leading rebounder with seven. CCGA shot 38 percent from the field and 35 percent from three compared to 45 percent from the Knights and 20 percent from three. 

The Mariners will return to action next Monday, November 4, when they travel to Florida College. Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m.