Cobras Stun Wingate for South Atlantic Conference Win Tuesday Night

WINGATE, N.C. - The Coker University men's basketball team came from behind to stun Wingate to open South Atlantic Conference play with a 49-45 victory on Tuesday night (Nov. 26).

Wingate held a 23-19 lead after a surge in the final minutes. Coker led 6-4 through one media break, before the Bulldogs would go ahead 9-6 before the under-12 timeout. The Bulldogs would stretch their lead to six at the under-eight timeout, before growing their lead to seven with under four minutes to play. Coker would get back within two at 20-18 with 1:04 left in the half, before Wingate tallied three of the final four points to take the lead to the half.

Coker would get within two early in the half, before eventually tying the game up at 25 just past the five-minute mark. The teams went bucket-for-bucket into the final eight minutes, before Wingate would build a five-point lead with seven and a half minutes to play. Coker would storm back with a run putting them ahead 45-39 with 2:20 to play. Wingate would come back to knot the game at 45 with a pair of Jarren Cottingham free throws, before the Cobras took possession with 19 seconds left. In the dying seconds, Royce Hunter backed down his Wingate defender and sunk a fadeaway jumper to give the Cobras the lead for good. Hunter would then ice the victory with two free throws to put the game at its final score.

Hunter posted a team-high 15 in the victory, while Noel Pinnock also added 12 points for the Cobras. Five others contributed points in the victory. Pinnock led the team with eight rebounds, while Chandler Lindsey and Hunter each had six on the night. Eight other Cobras each snagged rebounds in the win. Lindsey and KJ Harris each had four assists in the game, while Harris also recorded the lone block for Coker on the night. Lindsey registered a team-high two steals, while four others each had one takeaway in the game.

The Cobras (2-2, 1-0 SAC) hit the hardwood again on Saturday (Nov. 30) at home against Lincoln Memorial in South Atlantic Conference play. Tip-off is slated for 4:00 p.m., with video and live stats available at www.cokercobras.com.