Balanced Attack Gets Coker Back In Win Column

NEWBERRY, SC. - Coker broke the 100 point mark for the first time in four games in route of taking down Newberry Wednesday night. The Cobras received a balanced scoring as six players scored in double figures to ultimately topple the Wolves 105-97. 

BY THE NUMBERS:

Final: Coker 105-97

Records: Coker 12-5 (8-5) | Newberry 8-9 (5-8)

Location: Newberry, SC. | Eleazer Arena

TOP PERFORMERS:
Ian Blue - 15pts, 5reb, 3ast

Sebastian Cole - 14pts, 5ast, 2reb

Jonah Vaysbakh - 11pts, 2reb

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Ian Blue picked up where he left off over the weekend, getting the scoring started for Coker Wednesday. After the Cobras missed their first two shots, the ball found Blue as he put it in to score the first points of the night. After two Newberry free throws, Blue put in a jumper to give the Cobras the lead again. After a few Wolves made baskets, Newberry led the Cobras 10-8 at the first media timeout. 

Out of the break, Jamie Muldowney got into the scoring column draining a three pointer on a kick out pass from Sebastian Cole. Two plays later Cole added points of his own with a turnaround jumper at the free throw line to tie the game at 15.  

With a little over 10 minutes remaining Coker trailed by one at 18-17. The Wolves scored out of the break to extend its lead to three. After a Judson Cole free throw, Cole hit his second turnaround of the first half to tie the game for Coker. The Cobras' leading scorer, Max Hurray, got on the board after a Coker line change, draining a three at the top of the key. Muldowney then put in a three of his own to give Coker a six point lead at the under 8 minute media timeout. 

After the two traded baskets down the stretch of the first half, Sebastian Cole netted his third turnaround jumper of the first half to give Coker a 44-43 lead heading into the break. At the half Coker shot 42.2 percent from the field on 19 of 45 shooting. The Cobras out rebounded Newberry 21-19, and forced the Wolves into 10 turnovers. 

Newberry got on the board first in the second half, knocking down a pair of free throws, before Hurray, who was quiet in the first half sitting with three fouls, drew a shooting foul. He knocked down one of two tying the game at 45. 

From there, the two teams traded basket after basket, with neither team pulling away. That was until Coker went on a run with a little over 14 minutes remaining. Glenn Bynum Jr. hit a straight away three pointer from the top of the key, before a nifty pass from Sebastian Cole set up Ian Blue for an and one play. Coker's lead grew to six at this point. 

Newberry regained the lead with 10 remaining with a three pointer, but it was Hurray answering right away with a three of his own giving Coker a 70-68 lead. Ian Blue deposited a corner three pointer to give Coker a five point lead, and then Sebastian Cole put his body on the line taking a charge to swing the momentum in favor of the Cobras. After a Bynum Jr. three pointer, Coker led 78-72 with 7 minutes remaining. 

Logan Murray extended Coker's lead to 8 with four minutes remaining with a nifty hesitation move. After a Newberry basket, Coan then extended the Cobras lead to 9 with a deep three pointer. From there it was a matter of the Cobras knocking down their free throws. They did just that. Coker went 10-10 down the stretch on free throws, and picked up a 105-97 win, snapping their four game losing streak. 

NOTABLES:
Jonah Vaysbakh recorded a career high in points (11) and minutes (19) Wednesday night. 

Coker forced Newberry into 16 team turnovers, and ultimately shot 21 more shots than the Wolves. 

Max Hurray continued his double digit scoring steak as he poured in 11 points, extending his streak to 7.

UP NEXT:
Coker welcomes UVA Wise to Hartsville Saturday evening, as tipoff is set for 4 p.m. in the Deloach Center. UVA Wise currently sits third in SAC play, with Coker in 4th. The Cobras took the lone matchup of the season between the two 103-93.