BRADENTON, Fla. – Aamir Mack put on a scoring clinic Tuesday night, pouring in 22 points to lead the Coastal Georgia Mariners to a 96-66 victory over New College of Florida at SCF-Bradenton. The win improved the Mariners to 7-9 overall and 2-3 in conference play.
Mack was unstoppable throughout the contest, shooting an efficient 10-of-13 from the field while adding five rebounds, an assist, and three steals. His dominance was particularly evident in the second half, where he erupted for 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting to help the Mariners pull away from the Seahawks.
After a competitive first half that saw Coastal Georgia take a slim 38-34 lead into the break, the Mariners turned up the defensive intensity and offensive efficiency in the second period. They outscored New College 58-32 after halftime, shooting an impressive 59.4 percent from the field while limiting the Seahawks to just 36.7 percent shooting.
Preston Crisp provided valuable scoring punch with 13 points, connecting on three of his eight three-point attempts. The junior guard was especially effective in the second half, scoring eight points to complement Mack's offensive explosion.
The Mariners' balanced attack featured nine players scoring, with the bench contributing a substantial 42 points. Kycean Pruett added nine points off the bench, while both Jeremiah Camara and Derrick "Mannie" Har chipped in eight points apiece. Camara was perfect from the field, going 3-for-4, while Har knocked down a critical three-pointer late in the game and went 5-for-5 from the free-throw line.
Khylan McKennie showcased his playmaking ability with four assists to go along with eight points, helping orchestrate the Mariners' offensive flow. Braden Wood provided excellent energy on the boards, pulling down seven rebounds while adding five points and four assists.
Coastal Georgia's defensive pressure was relentless, forcing 18 turnovers and converting them into 23 points. The Mariners also controlled the paint, outscoring New College 32-22 in that area and dominating the glass with a 37-21 rebounding advantage.
The Mariners shot 54.8 percent from the field for the game, including 34.6 percent from three-point range, and were particularly strong at the free-throw line, converting 19 of 25 attempts for 76 percent. Their second-half shooting surge proved to be the difference, as they connected on nearly 60 percent of their attempts after the break.
Giovanni Toscanini led New College with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting, while Diego Eslava added 13 points despite struggling from long range, making just four of his 13 three-point attempts. Shawn Lefresne contributed nine points and handed out six assists, but the Seahawks couldn't match Coastal Georgia's depth or second-half intensity.
The Mariners built their largest lead of 30 points late in the second half and cruised to the finish line with their reserves logging significant minutes. The comprehensive team effort and balanced scoring attack demonstrated the kind of basketball that will be crucial as Coastal Georgia continues its conference schedule.
With Mack's offensive firepower leading the way and contributions coming from throughout the roster, the Mariners showed they can compete at a high level when firing on all cylinders.
