Coker men’s basketball team battles, but falls at Lander
GREENWOOD — The Coker University men’s basketball team battled but fell at Lander in non-conference action on Saturday by a score of 85-63.
Coker jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first half, before Lander would respond with a 15-2 run to take a 15-9 lead to the second media timeout of the frame.
Coker got back within one with 10 and a half minutes to play, before a Royce Hunter three-pointer would put the Cobras ahead 25-23 with just over seven minutes left in the period.
Lander would regain its lead with five minutes to play at 28-27, before two free throws from Hunter tied the game back up at 29.
The teams went back and forth to a 35-35 tie with 1:23 to play, before Lander would score the final four points of the half to take a 39-35 lead to the break.
The teams traded buckets over the first few minutes of the second half, before Lander would eventually stretch its lead into double-digits seven minutes into the half. Lander would keep the Cobras at a distance of at least 10 for the remainder of the second half on the way to the home victory.
Coker was led by a game-high 26 points from Hunter, while eight other Cobras contributed points in the game. Hunter had a phenomenal day shooting the basketball, finishing 7-10 from the floor, 6-9 from three-point range and a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line.
Coker out-rebounded Lander 33-29, led by five boards each from Chandler Lindsey, Chris Swiney and Williams Oneyodi.
Lindsey dished out a team-high three assists in the game, while Swiney added two and Hunter, KJ Harris, Sparky Fabre and Oneyodi each had one helper in the game.
Hunter, Anthoney Ray and Harris each recorded one steal in the game. Dakota Jennings led the Cobras with two blocked shots in the game, while Hunter and Ryan Carfley each contributed one rejection in the game.
Coker was to be back on the hardwood Nov. 26 to open South Atlantic Conference play at Wingate.
