HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Emory & Henry University Men's Basketball Team (9-5, 4-4 SAC) made it three consecutive wins Saturday, taking down Coker University (1-13, 0-8 SAC) on the road in South Atlantic Conference play. The Wasps took a seven-point advantage into halftime, then held off a late Coker rally to pick up the 69-58 conference win.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Emory & Henry 69, Coker 58
LOCATION – Hartsville, South Carolina
VENUE – DeLoach Center
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (9-5, 4-4 SAC); Coker (1-13, 0-8 SAC)
How It Happened
- It was a physical, cagey affair to begin the game and the two teams stood deadlocked at 10-10 after the opening five minutes. The Wasps picked up their offense through the following four minutes, reeling off 11 consecutive points, capped off by an old-fashioned three-point play from senior forward Assad Madassalia (Brooklyn, N.Y.) to give the visitors a 21-10 advantage over the Cobras at the 10:58 mark. E&H continued to push the tempo and a three-point jumper by freshman forward Donnie Morris (Tampa, Fla.) saw the Wasps lead reach 13 at 30-17. Coker would score the final six points of the half to make it 30-23 at the halftime break.
- The squads traded buckets to kick off the second half and another bucket from Madassalia made the score 40-33 with 13:39 remaining. A 7-2 run over the next 1:26 by the Cobras brought them back within just a pair at 42-40. Coker finally drew back level with the Wasps with a three from Zundra Jackson at the 8:40 mark, but E&H struck back with another quick 7-2 run of their own to push the margin back out to five at 55-50 with six minutes to play. The Cobras managed to stay within striking distance down the stretch, but the Wasps had an answer for every attempted run. Emory & Henry was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line over the final 41 seconds to seal the deal and clinch a crucial SAC win on the road in hostile territory.
Emory & Henry Leaders
- Sophomore guard Korbin Dixon (Milton, Ontario, CANADA) paced the Wasps with a game-high 21 points, three rebounds, one assist and a steal. Junior guard Jaden Andrew (St. John's, ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA) went for 12 points, seven boards, five steals and an assist.
- Madassalia posted 11 points, seven rebounds, three blocked shots and an assist while junior guard Jackson Crawford (Daleville, Va.) contributed 10 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal in the win for the Wasps.
Coker Individual Leaders
- Aaron Hall led the Cobras with a team-high 16 points, nine rebounds and a trio of assists while Isayah Owens recorded 15 points, four assists, three rebounds and a steal.
- Jackson collected 13 points, three rebounds and a steal for Coker. Iason Binis finished with seven points, three rebounds and a steal off of the bench.
A Deeper Look
- Emory & Henry was 25-for-59 (42.4%) from the field and struggled from deep, making just a pair of threes on 19 attempts (10.5%).
- Coker finished shooting 35.1% (20-for-57) overall and 4-for-21 (19.0%) from beyond the three-point arc.
- The Wasps were 17-for-25 (68.0%) at the charity stripe while the Cobras converted 82.4% (14-for-17) of their free throw attempts.
- E&H crashed the glass, outrebounding the home team by a 42-32 margin. Both teams tallied just four second chance points apiece.
- Each team committed 14 turnovers, but the Cobras converted those miscues into 12 points compared to just six for the Wasps.
- Emory & Henry made hay inside, posting 44 points in the paint. Coker managed to put up 32 points in the interior.
- The contest involved four ties and three lead changes.
Up Next
- Emory & Henry returns home on Wednesday, October 14 when they host the Lions of Mars Hill University. Tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from the John Rutledge King Center.
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