BRUNSWICK, Ga. - A late game, 6-0, run was not enough for the College of Coastal Georgia men's basketball team as they dropped their final non-conference game of the 2024-25 season to the Thomas Nighthawks on Thursday afternoon. 

The first 20 minutes of the contest lived up to every bit of the billing as neither side could pull away as the Nighthawks (7-7, 1-4 SSAC) led by just a single point at the half break. 

D'ontaye Strawter came out of the blocks on fire for the Mariners (5-7, 2-1 SUN) making the first three baskets of the game for CCGA to keep them in the contest early. Both sides traded baskets until the 15:49 mark when Thomas went on an 11-2 run over two minutes of game time to take their largest lead of the half of eight points, leading CCGA 20-12 with 13:30 left to play in the half. 

The Mariners then mounted a run of their own, using a 13-5 run over the next six minutes of game time to claw their way back into the game and tie it at 25 a piece for the final stretch, using six points from Jeremiah Camara and five from Kaden McArthur during the run. Neither side pulled away more than six points for the final six minutes of the first half, with the only separation being a three pointer from the Nighthawks to end the half from Jailin Lee which was answered with a layup from the Mariners, leading to the one point deficit at the break. 

McArthur and Strawter combined for 17 of the 38 first half points for CCGA, with Strawter shooting 4-5 from the field in the half. Strawter also grabbed a team leading six rebounds in the half. 

Thomas came out of the locker room for the second half on fire, mounting a 13-5 run over the first five minutes of the half to take an 11 point lead. CCGA attempted to claw their way back into the contest over the next few minutes of game time, but the Nighthawks were relentless in their pursuit, leading by as many as 14 halfway through the period. 

With just four minutes to play and the Mariners trailing 67-60, CCGA mounted their comeback with a 6-0 run to cut the lead down to just one, getting all six points from the left hand of McArthur, as the Mariners were right back in the ballgame with just under three to play.

While so close, the Mariners never could tie the ballgame back up as Thaddeus Burns had a game tying layup blocked with just 18 seconds left on the clock as the Mariners dropped their final non-conference game of the season by a final of 74-70. 

McArthur led the Mariners in scoring with 20 points, his fifth 20 point game of the season. Camara was the only other Mariner to finish with double digits, scoring 14 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Lee led the Nighthawks with 15 points as Thomas shot 44 percent from the field and 42 percent from three. 

CCGA returns on Saturday as they play host to the St Thomas Bobcats in their return to Sun Conference action. Tip off is set for 4:00 p.m. from Howard Coffin Gym.