BRUNSWICK, Ga. – The College of Coastal Georgia men's basketball team opened the 2025–26 season in winning fashion Saturday afternoon, pulling away in the second half to earn an 84–65 victory over Thomas University inside Howard Coffin Gym. The win marked both the Mariners' first of the season and the first under head coach Tim MacAllister, setting a strong tone for Homecoming weekend.

The Mariners overcame a shaky first half that featured several early turnovers, allowing the visiting Night Hawks to hang close. Coastal Georgia took a slim 30–29 lead into halftime despite shooting an efficient 43 percent from the floor and knocking down four three-pointers. However, the second half was a different story — the Mariners found their rhythm offensively, outscoring Thomas 54–36 while shooting 65 percent from the field and nearly 90 percent from the free-throw line.

Leading the way for Coastal Georgia was Isaiah Edden, who poured in a game-high 22 points, including four three-pointers and a perfect 6-for-6 mark from the line. Derrick "Mannie" Harris added 17 points, six assists, and five rebounds, while Aamir Mack came off the bench for 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Thaddeus Burns chipped in 13 points and six rebounds, and Alexandre Zambonetti contributed six efficient points in 15 minutes.

The Mariners dominated the glass with a 45–40 rebounding advantage and shared the ball well, tallying 22 assists on 29 made field goals. Coastal Georgia's improved ball control and execution in the second half helped turn a tight contest into a decisive victory.

With the win, Coastal Georgia starts the season 1–0  in front of the Homecoming crowd.

The Mariners will return to action on Tuesday October 28th at 7:00pm as they host Georgia Gwinnett, looking to build on the momentum from their strong second-half performance.