The Coastal Georgia Mariners couldn't overcome a strong second-half surge by Keiser, falling 97-70 on Wednesday evening in West Palm Beach, Florida, despite staying competitive through much of the first half.

The Mariners held their own early, even leading by as many as six points in the first half before taking a slim 39-45 deficit into the break. However, Keiser dominated the second half, outscoring Coastal Georgia 52-31 while shooting an impressive 66.7 percent from the field to pull away for the 27-point victory.

Aamir Mack led the Mariners with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, adding six rebounds, an assist, a steal, and a block in 24 minutes of action. Mack was effective attacking the basket and converting at the free-throw line despite making just 3-of-7 attempts. His ability to score in the paint kept the Mariners within striking distance during the first half.

Alexandre Zambonetti provided a spark off the bench with 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting, including 1-of-4 from three-point range. Zambonetti also converted 3-of-4 free throws and grabbed a rebound in 17 minutes of play. His energy and scoring in the first half helped the Mariners build their early lead.

Derrick Harris and Preston Crisp each contributed eight points for Coastal Georgia. Harris finished 3-of-9 from the field and 2-of-7 from three-point range, while Crisp was perfect from the floor, going 3-of-3 overall and 2-of-2 from beyond the arc in just 19 minutes. Both players hit crucial shots in the first half to keep the game competitive.

Braden Wood added seven points, six assists, and three rebounds despite battling foul trouble throughout the contest. His court vision and playmaking ability were evident as he distributed the ball effectively, though he finished just 3-of-5 from the field. Khylan McKennie scored seven points as well, converting 5-of-6 free throws despite struggling from the field at 1-of-9. Jeremiah Camara chipped in six points on 3-of-4 shooting in 13 minutes off the bench.

The Mariners' struggles in the second half were evident in their shooting numbers. After a solid first half where they shot 55.2 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range, Coastal Georgia cooled off dramatically, managing just 30 percent from the floor and 21.4 percent from beyond the arc after halftime. The team finished 42.4 percent from the field for the game and 31.8 percent from three-point range.

Keiser was led by Camerin James's dominant 25-point performance on 9-of-13 shooting. James was particularly devastating in the second half, going a perfect 6-of-6 from the field while adding four assists and six rebounds. Nadir Myers added 16 points and six assists, while Braylen Meredith contributed 12 points off the bench. The Seahawks' balanced attack and relentless pressure on both ends proved too much for the Mariners to overcome.

The Seahawks dominated in the paint, outscoring the Mariners 60-28 in that area while also holding a significant rebounding advantage at 43-28. Keiser's ability to control the glass led to 12 second-chance points compared to just seven for Coastal Georgia. The Seahawks also capitalized on the Mariners' 12 turnovers, converting them into 19 points while committing only eight turnovers themselves.

Keiser's 57.4 percent shooting from the field for the game, including their blistering second-half performance, showcased their offensive efficiency and ability to attack the basket consistently. The Seahawks' 74.2 percent free-throw shooting also kept the Mariners from mounting any serious comeback attempts.

The loss drops Coastal Georgia's record to 8-10 overall and 2-6 in conference play.