In a dramatic Wednesday night overtime contest in Brunswick, Coastal Georgia rallied from a second-half deficit to knock off Southeastern 90-87, improving to 9-13 overall and 3-7 in conference play.
Aamir Mack delivered a virtuoso performance for the Mariners, pouring in a game-high 29 points on an incredibly efficient 10-of-14 shooting from the field. The forward was virtually unstoppable in the paint and at the free-throw line, converting 9-of-10 from the charity stripe. Mack saved his best for overtime, scoring eight of Coastal Georgia's 12 points in the extra session to seal the victory.
The Mariners jumped out to a commanding first-half lead, building their advantage to as many as 15 points in the second quarter before taking a 45-37 cushion into the break. However, Southeastern clawed back in the second half, outscoring Coastal Georgia 41-33 to force overtime tied at 78-78.
Derrick "Mannie" Harris provided crucial support with 16 points, including some timely free throws in overtime. Preston Crisp added 14 points and distributed five assists while playing all 43 minutes, showing remarkable endurance in the extended contest. Braden Wood chipped in 10 points and grabbed six rebounds in 40 minutes of work.
The bench made significant contributions as well, with Alexandre Zambonetti scoring six points in just 10 minutes, providing an offensive spark when the starters needed a breather. Khylan McKennie also contributed six points off the bench, all from the free-throw line.
Coastal Georgia's success came despite a cold shooting night from beyond the arc, where they connected on just 7-of-24 attempts for 29.2 percent. The Mariners compensated by dominating at the free-throw line, converting an impressive 23-of-28 attempts for 82.1 percent, including a perfect 6-for-7 in overtime when it mattered most.
Southeastern's Jayson Nixon nearly single-handedly kept his team in the game, scoring 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting while playing 42 grueling minutes. Anthony Kangah added 23 points, hitting 4-of-8 from three-point range, and Daivion Traylor contributed 18 points with solid efficiency from the field and free-throw line.
The game featured multiple momentum swings, with the score tied four times and the lead changing hands just once. After Southeastern rallied to tie the game on a LaDavian King layup with 21 seconds remaining in regulation, Coastal Georgia got a final possession but Thaddeus Burns missed a potential game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer.
In overtime, the Mariners never trailed. After Nixon tied the game 80-80 with a jumper early in the extra period, Crisp hit two free throws to give Coastal Georgia a lead they would not relinquish. Mack's dominance in the paint proved decisive, as he scored on three layups in overtime while Harris iced the game with two free throws in the final second.
The Mariners showed remarkable composure down the stretch, making their free throws when it counted and getting crucial stops on defense.
Thaddeus Burns struggled offensively with just six points on 2-of-5 shooting, but his eight assists were critical in keeping the offense flowing. The Mariners also won the turnover battle, forcing 16 Southeastern turnovers while committing just nine of their own.
The win snaps what had likely been a frustrating stretch for Coastal Georgia and gives the Mariners a much-needed confidence boost as they try to climb out of the bottom half of the conference standings. The gritty overtime victory showcased the team's resilience and their ability to execute in pressure situations, qualities that will be essential if they hope to make a late-season push toward respectability in league play.
