LAKE WALES, Fla. - For the second consecutive season, the College of Coastal Georgia men's basketball team will begin their conference season 1-0 as they defeat the Warner Royals in the 2024-25 Sun Conference opener by a final of 70-67 in Lake Wales, Fla. on Saturday night. 

The first 20 minutes were back and forth the entire way, with the Mariners holding the slight advantage at the halftime break. The Mariners (2-3, 1-0 SUN) shot an impressive 46 percent from the field but only mustered 2-14 from behind the three point line in the half. 

CCGA jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead thanks to a jumper from Valdy Zephir and three points from D'ontaye Strawter to open the game. The Royals (3-3, 0-1 SUN) fell down by as many as 9-2 in the opening half, but worked their way back into the game and eventually tied it once again at 13-13 with a Kemo Cansley layup with 11:24 on the clock. Jeremiah Camara put the Mariners back up three, and that was as high as CCGA's lead got until Camara hit another layup with 5:48 left in the half to put the Mariners up four. David Felix pushed the lead to six, but Warner immediately responded with a 7-0 run, with all seven points coming from Jack Voth as the Royals took a one point lead. 

Not to be outdone, CCGA answered back with a 7-0 run of their own which was kicked off with a three pointer from D'Andre Jefferson and ended with a Thaddeus Burns layup. Burns added another layup to end the half followed by a pair of free throws, as CCGA took a 36-32 lead into the locker room. 

Zephir led the way with 11 points and seven rebounds, while Strawter and Felix both followed with five points each. 

The second half was just as tightly contested as the first, with both teams trading blows the entire 20 minute half. Warner immediately closed the halftime deficit immediately, and tied the game at 39 a piece with 17:22 on the clock. Kaden McArthur put the Mariners right back on top with a three pointer, which was immediately answered with a three from Jack Voth. Neither side built a lead over two points until Warner used a turnover from Salle Wilson to start a fast break which ended with a dunk for Logan West, and with 10:15 left in the half Warner led 51-48. Right after Warner built the lead, CCGA went on a 7-0 run fuelled by Burns, McArthur, and Zephir as the Mariners took a four point lead. CCGA eventually built their lead out to as many as seven at two different points in the second half. With 2:16 left in the game, Wilson put the Mariners up seven as CCGA looked to have the game in hand. 

Slowly but surely, the Royals climbed right back into the game, and Bryson Castillo buried a three in transition after a missed CCGA free throw to get within three with 31 seconds. It ended up being too little too late, however, as Zephir and McArthur buried the game at the free throw line, and the last ditch effort was not enough as the Mariners took the conference opener on the road by a final of 70-67. 

Zephir finished with a double-double, his first as a Mariner, with 16 points and 15 rebounds, while McArthur finished with 15 points, three rebounds, and a team leading five assists. Wilson ended with 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block. 

CCGA will now turn to their conference home opener as they welcome in the Southeastern Fire on Wednesday night. Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m. from Howard Coffin Gym.