Brunswick, Ga. – The College of Coastal Georgia men's basketball team went toe-to-toe with one of the NAIA's top programs on Tuesday night, showing grit and balance throughout the contest before ultimately falling to Georgia Gwinnett, 83–74, inside Howard Coffin Gym.

Despite the final margin, the game was tightly contested from start to finish. The Mariners traded blows with the Grizzlies for much of the evening, as the score was tied six times and the lead changed hands five times. Coastal Georgia entered the locker room trailing by just one point, 33–32, after an opening 20 minutes that featured strong defensive rotations and a composed offensive attack.

The first half was defined by back-and-forth momentum. Mannie Harris set the tone early, connecting on a three-pointer and attacking the rim in transition to give the Mariners energy on both ends. Kycean Pruett provided key perimeter shooting, hitting a pair of threes to keep Coastal within reach. Inside, Alexandre Zambonetti and Aamir Mack battled on the boards, helping the Mariners limit Georgia Gwinnett's second-chance looks.

Coastal Georgia shot 35.5% from the floor in the first half and went 4-for-14 from three-point range while holding the Grizzlies to 35.3% shooting. Defensively, the Mariners forced nine first-half turnovers and turned them into 10 points on the other end. By halftime, Harris had five points, Zambonetti added five of his own, and Mack's inside presence helped the Mariners enter the break trailing by only a single point, 33–32.

The second half opened with more of the same intensity. Pruett buried another three-pointer to briefly put Coastal ahead, but Georgia Gwinnett responded with a quick 6–0 run. From there, the game remained within one or two possessions for nearly 10 minutes as both teams traded scoring spurts.

Harris caught fire again midway through the half, scoring 11 of his 16 points after the break, including a deep three and a strong drive through contact. Pruett added 11 second-half points of his own, finishing the night with 14 total on an efficient 5-of-9 shooting, including 4-of-7 from long range. Isaiah Edden orchestrated the offense with poise, recording six assists and eight points while consistently setting up teammates for quality looks. Zambonetti contributed nine points and seven rebounds, using his length to impact both ends of the floor.

Off the bench, Mack was a force in the paint, pulling down 10 rebounds—five on the offensive glass—and adding eight points. His physical presence helped Coastal stay even on the glass, as both teams finished with 45 rebounds apiece. Ellis Graham also made a defensive impact, blocking two shots in limited minutes and adding three points.

The Mariners stayed within striking distance deep into the second half. After a pair of threes from Harris and Pruett cut the deficit to just two with under five minutes to play, Georgia Gwinnett's depth and late free throws proved decisive. The Grizzlies closed the game on a 16–8 run, converting their final six free throws to seal the win.

Coastal Georgia finished the night 25-of-65 (38.5%) from the field and 9-of-29 (31%) from beyond the arc. The Mariners assisted on 15 of their 25 field goals and held Georgia Gwinnett to just 37.5% shooting overall, but the Grizzlies made up the difference at the free-throw line, converting 20-of-25 attempts (80%) compared to the Mariners' 15-of-25 (60%).

With the loss, Coastal Georgia moves to 1–1 on the season and will look to bounce back in its next outing as it continues non-conference play.