The College of Coastal Georgia men's basketball team held off a late charge from New College of Florida to secure a 95-88 victory on Saturday afternoon at home in Brunswick, improving to 11-14 overall and 5-8 in conference play.
Preston Crisp led the Mariners with 21 points on an efficient 8-for-13 shooting performance, including 4-for-7 from three-point range. Crisp was particularly effective in the second half, scoring 14 points as the Mariners maintained their lead down the stretch.
Jeremiah Camara came off the bench to provide a huge spark, pouring in 18 points on 9-for-12 shooting from the field. Camara was a force in the paint all afternoon, consistently finishing around the rim and providing energy on both ends of the floor.
Derrick "Mannie" Harris added 16 points, going 3-for-5 from beyond the arc while also contributing seven assists. Despite picking up a technical foul in the first half, Harris remained composed and helped orchestrate the offense throughout the game.
The Mariners overcame a slow start that saw New College jump out to a 10-0 lead in the opening minutes. Coastal Georgia responded with strong play, eventually taking the lead and building a 46-39 advantage by halftime.
The second half saw the Mariners extend their lead to as many as 17 points at 79-62 with just over nine minutes remaining. However, New College refused to go away quietly, mounting a furious comeback attempt behind the play of Giovanni Toscanini, who finished with a game-high 26 points on 11-for-16 shooting.
The visitors cut the deficit to seven points with 19 seconds remaining, but timely free throw shooting from Harris and Braden Wood in the closing seconds helped seal the victory for the Mariners.
Khylan McKennie contributed 10 points off the bench, going 4-for-6 from the field, while Alexandre Zambonetti added seven points in limited minutes. Braden Wood chipped in eight points and grabbed three steals on the defensive end.
The Mariners shot an impressive 57.1 percent from the field for the game, including 47.8 percent from three-point range. Coastal Georgia was even better in the second half, converting 60.7 percent of their field goal attempts and 66.7 percent from beyond the arc.
The bench was a major factor in the victory, with the reserves combining for 39 points compared to just 25 for New College. The Mariners also held a slight rebounding advantage at 34-31 and dished out 22 assists on 36 field goals, showcasing excellent ball movement.
New College received strong performances from Diego Eslava (12 points), Shawn Lefresne (11 points, six assists), and Ben Walker (10 points). The visitors shot 54.1 percent from the field but couldn't overcome the Mariners' balanced attack and strong second-half shooting.
The victory gives the Mariners momentum as they continue conference play.
