Cobras Knock Lees-McRae from Conference Tournament

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
2/28/2009

Hartsville, S.C. - The Cobra Men's Basketball Team advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2009 Conference Carolinas Basketball Tournament on Saturday night with a 73-64 win over the Lees-McRae Bobcats. Coker (15-13, 10-10), the 6 seed in the tournament, was able to out shoot Lees-McRae (2-29, 2-18), the 11 seed, 50 percent to 35.9 percent on their way to the victory.

Early in the game, the basketball gods looked to be favoring Lees-McRae as the Bobcats held as much as a five point lead through the first 10 minutes of play, but a Vatrick Thompson (Columbia, SC) dunk, awoke the Cobra fans and the team and after a 12-3 run to end the half, Coker held a nine point, 40-31 lead.

The second half started much like the first, as the Cobras went on a quick 8-0 run. Although, Lees-McRae battled their way back to within six points with just under 10 minutes to play, that would be as close as the Cobras would allow the Bobcats to get.

Leading the Coker offensive attack was the big man Mason Ambler (Atlanta, GA) as he flirted with his first triple double of the year, but came up a few assists short, knocking down 18 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out five assists. Thompson also had a big night with 15 points and three rebounds, while Josh Poston (Myrtle Beach, SC) chipped in 12 points and six rebounds for the Cobras.

For Lees-McRae, Kyle Boardman and Sam Youse each had 14 points, with Boardman pulling down nine rebounds and Youse grabbing four, while Aaron Woodacre had 13 points and five rebounds and Jesse Hoots had 10 points.

Coker now advances to face the 3 seed Belmont Abbey on Monday in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Belmont Abbey.