#24 Lenoir Rhyne Uses Big Second Half To Take Down Coker

HARTSVILLE, SC. - Coker trailed by six at halftime, but a big second half by visiting nationally ranked Lenoir-Rhyne helped prevailed the Bears. The Cobras forced 20 turnovers on the night, and assisted on 19 baskets.

BY THE NUMBERS:
Score: Lenoir Rhyne 95, Coker 77
Recrods: Coker 14-7 (10-7) | Lenoir Rhyne 18-4 (15-3)
Location: Hartsville, Sc. | Deloach Center 

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Lenoir-Rhyne jumped out to an early lead in Wednesday nights matchup with Coker. The Bears used stout defense, getting in the passing lanes of Coker forcing the Cobras into multiple turnovers in the first four minutes, to help take a 8 to 2 lead. The Cobras then settled in when Logan Murray made a driving layup, and Max Hurray buried a three pointer to quickly cut the lead to two. The Bears extended their lead with two more baskets to take a 14 to 8 lead into the first media timeout.

Over the course of the next eight minutes, Lenoir-Rhyne extended their lead to 13, before Coker quickly raced back with made field goals by Landon Butler, Logan Murray, and Max Hurray to bring the Cobras within one with six minutes and thirty seconds remaining in the first frame. 

The two traded baskets down the stretch of the remainder of the first half, and it was Lenoir-Rhyne holding a six point lead at 42 to 36 at the break. It was a balanced attack for Coker in the first half with Max Hurray having a team best 7 at the break. Butler, Murray, Hurray, and Harris all scored five points or more. Coker shot just 28.6 percent from behind the arc in the first half, and made 14 of their 34 field goals. The Cobras outrebounded the Bears 20 to 19 in the first half, and registered 10 offensive rebounds. 

Out of the break it was Lenoir-Rhyne extending their lead early. The Bears went on a 16 to 4 run out of halftime and held a 18 point lead with 13 minutes remaining. Lenoir-Rhyne onyl allows 79.8 points per game on the season, and they showcased just that Wednesday night. The Cobras didn't get many uncontested shots, as the Bears were great on defense giving the Cobras difficulties. Coker continued to fight, and wouldn't go away though.

Cole drained a three pointer with a little under ten minutes remaining, and then Glenn Bynum Jr. stole the next offensive possession from Lenoir-Rhyne and layed it in to cut the lead to 8. That was the closest the Cobras would get the rest of the night. The bears then held the Cobras scoreless for the next four minutes, and extended their lead to as many as 21. They held onto that lead the remainder of the way, and eventually took down Coker 95 to 77. 

UP NEXT:
Coker continues their home stint when they take on Emory and Henry Saturday. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. in the Deloach Center. 

#GoCobras