Clutch Cobras Squeeze Past Bobcats, 71-61

Courtesy of Kevin Young, Lees-McRae SID
2/21/2009

BANNER ELK, N.C. - The Coker College Cobras hit eight of their eight free throw attempts with less than two minutes to play to seal a 71-61 win over the Lees-McRae College Bobcats Saturday afternoon in Conference Carolinas action in Williams Gymnasium.

With the game tied at 60 with 3:40 to play Vatrick Thompson nailed and three to give the Cobras a 63-60 lead. Following the three, Stevie Evans made four three throws, including the last two of the game, and Thompson, Mason Ambler and Josh Poston made two free throws apiece to seal the 71-61 win for the Cobras.

The games started off with Lees-McRae taking a 7-1 lead with just over five minutes gone by on the clock.

Six minutes later, Michael Gore knocked down a field goal to tie the game at 14, but a Kyle Boardman three point play gave Lees-McRae the lead again, 17-14.

An Evans three with 5:11 left in the half gave the Cobras a 22-21 lead. The two teams alternated the lead over the next few possessions until Aaron Woodacre canned a three to give the Bobcats a 31-29 lead. Sean Hardin stepped up to make a field goal to push the lead to four, 33-29, but the Cobras answered with a Gore with less than a minute to play in the half.

Boardman answered the call with 23 seconds left on a field goal to make it 35-31 heading into the break.

Four minutes into the second half Poston made a three to tie the game at 41 with 16:45 remaining.

From there the Cobras went on a 9-2 run to take a 50-43 lead with 13:03 on the clock.

The Cobras held the lead until Woodacre made two to tie the game at 58 with six minutes left in the game.

The teams traded the lead until Thompson canned his three to seal the game.

The Bobcats shot 34 percent from the field and 21 percent from behind the arc, while Coker was 44 percent from field goal and 57 percent from three.

The Cobras scored 24 points from three compared to nine for the Bobcats.

Boardman led Lees-McRae with a double-double, 16 points and 15 rebounds. It is his fourth double-double of the season. Woodacre chipped in with 15 points and passed out a game high four assists.

Poston led all scorers in the game with 23 points, and Ambler added 14. Thompson rounded out the Cobras in double digits with 10 points.

Lees-McRae will host Erskine College Tuesday, February 24th at 7:30 p.m. for the teams senior day in Williams Gymnasium and the final game of the regular season, while Coker will host Anderson in their senior night at 7:30 p.m. as well.