Gaffney, S.C. – The Limestone men's basketball team suffered a close defeat at home in a South Atlantic Conference game against Coker, with the final score being 93-83. This loss brings the Saints' record to 10-14 overall and 7-13 in the SAC, while Coker improves to 17-7 overall and 13-7 in the SAC.

Key Players:

1. Trevon Payton scored 19 points, making 6 out of 10 three-point attempts. He also grabbed 5 rebounds and contributed 3 assists.
2. Sirr Hughes (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) added 15 points to the scoreboard, hitting 3 out of 10 three-pointers. He also collected 3 rebounds and provided 2 assists.
3. Greg McKay (Nassau, Bahamas) scored 12 points, successfully making all 6 of his free throw attempts. He also pulled down 7 rebounds and had 2 assists.
4. Railer Vargas (Lilburn, Ga.) had a perfect shooting night, scoring 12 points by making all 6 of his field goal attempts. He was dominant on the boards, securing 11 rebounds.
5. Isayah Owens (Inman, S.C.) contributed 11 points, making 3 out of 7 three-point shots. He also dished out 4 assists.

Story of the Game:

First Half:

• Limestone started hot, going on a 7-0 run.
• The Cobras battled back to cut the lead to five a few minutes later.
• Vargas was a threat in the paint, hitting a layup through traffic to grow the Saints' lead to 14, making the score 24-10.
• Hughes hit a three-pointer to maintain a comfortable lead at 32-19 with less than eight minutes to go.
• Coker's Judson Coan hit a three-pointer, cutting into the Saints' lead.
• Yaturi Bolton (Goose Creek, S.C.) hit a three in transition, growing Limestone's lead to 16 with less than four minutes to go.
• The Cobras went on a run to close out the half, bringing the lead down to 5, with the score at 40-35 going into halftime.

Second Half:

• Both teams came out looking to take control of the game.
• Coker took the lead and extended it to a seven-point advantage at 49-42.
• Payton hit a three-pointer a few minutes later, cutting the lead down to four.
• Halfway through the second half, both teams kept going back and forth in transition, with Vargas making a basket to bring the score to 60-55 with less than 13 minutes to go.
• Over the next few minutes, Coker built a fourteen-point lead as their offense started to heat up late in the game.
• Owens made a three-pointer for Limestone, cutting into Coker's lead to make it 70-62.
• McKay hit two free throws, reducing the lead to nine with four minutes on the clock.
• The Cobras pulled away and secured the game, with the final score being 93-83.

Up Next: Limestone will hit the road to face Catawba on Wednesday, the 19th, starting at 7:30 P.M..