Cobras Storm Back For Victory

Hartsville, SC – Coker College erased a 13 point half-time deficit to come back and defeat St. Andrews 74-72 Tuesday night in men’s collegiate basketball.  The Cobras overcame dreadful first half shooting woes and only led during the final minute of the game.  Coker improves to 4-10 on the year and 2-7 in the CVAC, while the Knights slide to 5-11, 2-7 in conference.  

The Knights were on fire in the early stages of the game and raced out to a 16 point lead with 12:21 remaining in the first period. Coker briefly got the margin under 10 points but St. Andrews pushed it back to 13 as the first half ended.

Following the break the Cobras immediately began to chip away at the lead and were able to keep it in single digits for the majority of the half.  Coker made its final push with four minutes to go. CC finally tied the game at 68-68 with 1:42 to play and then went ahead on a pair of technical foul shots with 1:21 left.

A pair of Kalifa Bojang free-throws put the Knights ahead with :48 seconds to go but it was the last lead they would hold.  With :11 seconds on the clock Andre Blackwell secured a rebound on Derrall Beason’s shot and layed the ball in for a one point lead. St. Andrews then committed a crucial turnover and Quentin Demeritte sealed the win with a free-throw.

Beason finished the night with 15 points and six assists.  The senior played 38 minutes and only turned the ball over once.  Terry Whitaker finished with 12 points and six boards, and Demeritte totaled 11 points in 14 minutes.

St. Andrews’ Andrew Duke led all players with 27 points and 12 rebounds.  Adam Frederic tallied 13 ponts and three assists in the loss. Starting point guard Ashford Gray scored five points but left the game late in the first half with an injured hand.

The Cobras will now face Limestone College this Friday, December 31, at 7:30 PM in Hartsville.