COLUMBIA, KY - The College of Coastal Georgia men's basketball team battled through a tough matchup on the road Saturday afternoon, falling 86–70 to Campbellsville University at Biggers Sports Center. Despite a strong second-half effort and several standout individual performances, the Mariners couldn't overcome a blistering shooting display from the Tigers, who hit 18 three-pointers in the game.
Campbellsville came out hot from the start, connecting on 61 percent of its three-point attempts in the first half to build a 53–36 lead at the break. Coastal Georgia responded with grit and balance in the second half, outscoring the Tigers 34–33 over the final 20 minutes and holding them to 44 percent shooting after halftime. However, the early deficit proved too much to erase.
Senior guard Mannie Harris led the way for the Mariners with 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting while also collecting four rebounds and four steals. His aggressive play on both ends kept the team within striking distance throughout the contest. Khylan McKennie provided a spark off the bench, contributing 12 points, three rebounds, and three steals, while Alexandre Zambonetti added 11 points and three boards. Aamir Mack and Braden Wood each chipped in eight points, with Wood connecting on both of his three-point attempts and making several key plays in transition.
The Mariners' defensive pressure generated 11 steals and 14 turnovers from Campbellsville, but the Tigers' hot shooting from beyond the arc ultimately proved decisive. Dalton Kramer led Campbellsville with 37 points, knocking down seven threes to pace the home team.
Coastal Georgia showed strong balance in its attack, with nine different players scoring and the bench contributing 28 points. The Mariners also outscored the Tigers 28–16 in the paint, continuing to emphasize their inside presence and physicality.
The loss drops Coastal Georgia to 1–2 on the season, but the performance showed promising signs of growth and depth. The Mariners displayed resilience in the second half, clawing back with improved defense and ball movement while matching Campbellsville's pace down the stretch.
The team will look to build on the positive stretches from Saturday's matchup as it continues its early-season road swing before returning home for its upcoming games in Brunswick.
