Mariners Fall in Season Opener to Knights, 72-56
COCHRAN, Ga. — The College of Coastal Georgia men’s basketball team opened its season on a disappointing note, losing to the Middle Georgia State Knights by a score of 72-56 on Tuesday night.
The Mariners (0-1) started strong, with Thaddeus Burns draining back-to-back three-pointers, giving CCGA an early 6-2 lead. Burns continued his scoring streak, but the Knights quickly rallied, tying the game at 8-8 with a layup from Nick Cham at 16:56 in the first half.
Middle Georgia State seized control of the game, launching an 18-5 run that left them leading 24-13 with 11:41 remaining in the half, propelled by strong shooting (7-9 from the field, 3-5 from three). Despite brief spurts from Mariners including a layup by Kaden McArthur and a three-pointer from D’Andre Jefferson, the Knights ended the half with a commanding 47-29 lead.
McArthur led CCGA in the first half with nine points, while Burns contributed eight and Sal Wilson added five. The Mariners, shooting 42% from the field, struggled defensively, allowing the Knights to shoot 53% and committing nine turnovers.
The second half began with both teams exchanging baskets. However, midway through, both squads faced shooting droughts. The Mariners found their momentum late in the game, going on a 7-2 run with contributions from D’ontaye Strawter, David Felix, and Burns. Despite showing resilience by outscoring the Knights 12-4 in the final minutes, it ultimately wasn’t enough.
McArthur finished as the leading scorer for CCGA with 13 points, with Burns and Wilson adding 11 and 10 points, respectively. The team will look to bounce back when they face Florida College next Monday at 7:30 PM.
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Photo credit coastalgeorgiasports.com