BRUNSWICK, Ga. - Despite keeping it close at the half, the College of Coastal Georgia could not keep up with the Florida Memorial Lions, dropping their Wednesday night matchup by a final of 94-63 on their home floor.
The Lions (21-5, 11-3 SUN) jumped out to an 11-5 run over the first five minutes of the ballgame and did not let their foot off the gas for much of the first half. Trailing 33-19 at the 7:40 mark in the half, the Mariners (7-16, 4-10 SUN) mounted a quick and effective 9-0 run in 18 seconds, all coming from Preston Crisp, to cut into the FMU lead making the score 33-28 with 7:22 left in the half. The momentum was short lived for CCGA, however, as Florida Memorial ended the half on a 13-5 run to take a 46-33 lead into the locker room for the half.
Crisp was by far the engine behind the Mariners offense in the first half, scoring 17 of the 33 points for CCGA in the half on 5-7 shooting and 4-4 shooting from the three point line. Raylin Grant added nine off the bench, and Salle Wilson gave the Mariners five. The Mariners outshot the Lions at the three point line, but failed to match the production overall leading to the 13 point deficit.
In the second half, the Lions built their lead out to as many as 19 points as they looked to pull away from the Mariners. With the Mariners hanging on by a thread, a quick 6-0 run over a minute of game time, five of which game from Wilson, CCGA cut the lead down to 13 and looked to get right back into the ballgame. Whatever momentum was gained over the run was immediately lost for the Mariners as FMU quickly responded with a 20-0 run over the next three minutes to take their lead to the biggest it had been with just seven minutes left to play. Try as they might, the Mariners could not recover as they dropped their third straight game by a final of 94-63.
Crisp was held scoreless in the second half but still finished as the leading scorer for CCGA with 17 points, followed by Wilson with 12 and Grant with 10.
CCGA will have a week off to prepare for the final week of the season as they host Webber International next Wednesday for senior night. Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m. from Coffin Gym.
