HARTSVILLE, S.C. — Coker University placed six players in double-figure scoring while knocking down 19 three-pointers as the 17th-ranked Cobras posted a 106-83 win over visiting Tusculum University Saturday afternoon at the DeLoach Center.
Coker (9-0, 7-0 SAC) remains undefeated on the season as NCAA Division II’s top scoring eclipsed the century mark for a ninth straight time to open the year. The Cobras are averaging 113.2 points per contest including 16.1 triples per outing (1st in NCAA II).
Max Hurray led the way with 21 points off the bench including his five 3-pointers. All five Coker starters scored in double-digits including Glenn Bynum (18), Sebastian Cole (13), Xavier Moultrie (11), Ian Blue (11) and Judson Coan.
The Pioneers (3-8, 3-4 SAC) were led by scoring by junior Malachi Hale, who finished with 24 points. Bryce Jackson accounted for 18 points, while senior Akeem Odusipe scored a career-high 18 markers to go along with his game-high 10 rebounds. Freshman Taj Kimber posted 13 points and a season-high seven assists, while Ryan Neal and Josiah Morris tallied six and four points, respectively to round out the Tusculum scoring.
The Cobras went 36-of-66 from the floor for 55 percent which including 19-of-38 from beyond the arc. Coker also went 15-of-17 at the free throw line. The Cobras recorded 29 assists on its 36 made field goals and forced 21 Tusculum turnovers thanks to 15 steals, resulting in 28 points.
Coker jumped out of the gate making its first four shots, all 3-poitners to take a 12-0 lead 1:26 into the contest. The Cobras would stretch the lead out to as many as 19 (33-14) thanks to a 10-0 run which was capped off by back-to-back treys from Hurray.
Tusculum responded with a 13-3 run to trim the deficit to 36-27 which including four free throws from Jackson and a Neal three-pointer. Seven straight by the Cobras pushed the lead out to 16 before TU ended the half with a 9-4 spurt to trail 47-36 at the intermission.
The Pioneers out-scored Coker 25-13 to start the second half and took its first lead of the day when Hale converted a layup as TU led 61-60 with 12:08 remaining.
The Cobras answered with a 10-0 run to take a 70-61 lead with 11:06 left. Kimber stopped the run with a basket, but a 19-7 spurt by Coker increased the lead to 89-70 thanks to treys from Butler and Hurray.
TU would cut the deficit to 15 points on two occasions, but a 12-2 run by the Cobras sealed the victory while handing the Pioneers their third straight loss.
Tusculum shot 51 percent from the field but went 6-of-16 from three-point territory (38%) and 19-of-32 at the free throw line (59%) for the short-handed Pioneers.
Tusculum out-rebounded Coker by a 36-31 margin including 15-11 on the offensive boards.
The Pioneers will close out the pre-holiday portion of their schedule on Wednesday when they travel to nationally-ranked Lincoln Memorial University for a 7:30 p.m. SAC contest.
