Coker Cobras
The Coker College men's basketball team is set to begin their season with a pair of home games on Tuesday (Nov. 13) and Wednesday (Nov. 14) against the Barton Bulldogs and Belmont Abbey Crusaders. Tipoff is set for 7:00 pm in the DeLoach Center for both games, and tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for students and free to all Coker faculty, staff and students. Tuesday's game against Barton is scheduled to be a whiteout, so make sure to where white in support of your Cobras!
The Coker College men's basketball team finished the 2017-18 season with a 12-17 overall record, including an impressive 9-11 showing versus South Atlantic Conference opponents. The Cobras earned a berth to the quarterfinals of the South Atlantic Conference Championship before falling to Wingate 76-75 in a tense overtime classic.
Bolstered by 12 returning players, including Preseason All-Conference selection Khalil Halls, and a bevy of new, talented recruits, the Cobras are in position to take a significant leap forward this season.
Player to Watch
Halls made an immediate impact for the Cobras last season, averaging 22.5 points and four made three-pointers in his first two games. He went on to score 20 or more points on seven occasions, including a 27-point outburst against Wingate in the South Atlantic Conference quarterfinals. He was awarded the 2018 Male Newcomer of the Year Award at the FANG awards, and named to the 2018-19 South Atlantic Conference Men's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Second Team.
KEY NUMBERS
14.4
Khalil Halls is the Cobras lead returning scorer after averaging 14.4 points per game during the 2017-18 season.
5
The Cobras feature five transfers, including 6-9 center Abdulsalam Sarki and former Coastal Carolina guard Jaylan Robertson. Both players should figure prominently in Coker's rotation during the 2018-19 season.
2
Coker returns two four-year seniors in Chase Brewington and Larry Cooper.
7.9
Marquis Green averaged 7.9 points per game while being selected to the South Atlantic Conference All-Freshman team during the 2017-18 season.
9.9
The Cobras led the South Atlantic Conference with 9.9 steals per game last season.
STATISTICAL LEADERS
POINTS
Khalil Halls | 14.4 ppg
Marquis Green | 7.9 ppg
Larry Cooper | 7.0 ppg
LaDarius Williams | 4.6 ppg
REBOUNDS
Larry Cooper | 4.8 rpg
LaDarius Williams | 2.6 ppg
Khalil Halls | 2.2 ppg
Marquis Green | 1.8 ppg
ASSISTS
Marquis Green | 1.8 apg
Khalil Halls | 1.0 apg
LaDarius Williams | 0.7 apg
BLOCKS
Khalil Halls | 14
Larry Cooper | 8
LaDarius Williams | 7
Coker Cobras
2018 Coker Men's Basketball Roster
00 Brandon Tyson G So. 6-1 180 Hartsville, S.C. / Hartsville HS
1 Khalil Halls G Sr. 6-2 180 Vance, S.C. / Lake Marion HS
2 Chandler Lindsey G Fr 5-11 169 Campobello, S.C. / Spartanburg Day School
3 Marquis Green G So. 6-0 155 Darlington, S.C. / Darlington HS
4 Larry Cooper F Sr. 6-4 180 Lake City, S.C. / Lake City High School
5 Jaylan Robertson G Sr. 6-1 170 Clinton, N.C. / Coastal Carolina
10 Roy Ellis G So. 6-2 180 Pamplico, S.C. / Hannah-Pamplico HS
12 Myron Lee G So. 6-0 170 Orangeburg, S.C. / Edisto HS
14 Chase Brewington G Sr. 6-3 180 Clinton, S.C. / Laurens Academy
15 Christopher Fordham G Fr 6-2 180 Moncks Corner, S.C. / Goose Creek HS
20 Dakota Jennings F So. 6-5 225 Sumter, S.C. / Crestwood HS
21 Giovanni Rivers F So. 6-6 194 Florence, S.C. / South Florence HS
22 Anthoney Ray G Fr. 6-4 160 Bath, S.C. / Midland Valley High School
23 LaDarius Williams F Jr. 6-9 205 Laurens, S.C. / Laurens District 55 HS
30 Diez Mungro G So. 6-0 155 Latta, S.C. / Latta HS
32 Corrin Cannon G RS-Fr. 6-5 190 North Augusta, S.C. / Fox Creek HS
33 Malcolm Kennedy G Fr 6-0 170 York, S.C. / York Comprehensive HS
34 Kon Anguik G Jr. 6-5 190 Melbourne, Australia / Sheridan College
40 Khalil Shakir-Harris G Fr. 6-4 220 Columbia, S.C. / Limestone College
42 AJ McQuaige F Jr. 6-8 215 Richmond Hill, Ga. / East Georgia State College
43 Abdulsalam Sarki C Sr. 6-9 239 Melbourne, FL / Daytona State College
44 Ryan Carfley F Fr 6-9 220 Marion, S.C. / Wilson High School
Head Coach: Aric Samuel
Assistant Coaches: Jeff Hardwice, Enrico Pendergrass
2018-19 Men's Basketball Schedule
11.13 | Barton | 7:00 PM | Home |
11.14 | Belmont Abbey | 7:00 PM | Home |
11.17 | Limestone | 4:00 PM | Away |
11.20 | Southern Wesleyan | 7:30 PM | Away |
11.28| Wingate | 8:00 PM | Home |
12.1 | Lincoln Memorial | 4:00 PM | Away |
12.8 | Mars Hill | 4:00 PM | Away |
12.15 | Carson-Newman | 4:00 PM | Home |
12.17 | Barton | 7:00 PM | Away |
12.19 | Queens | 8:00 PM | Away |
12.29 | USC Upstate | 4:00 PM | Away |
01.05 | Anderson | 4:00 PM | Home |
01.09 | Catawba | 8:00 PM | Away |
01.12 | Tusculum | 4:00 PM | Away |
01.16 | Lenoir-Rhyne | 8:00 PM | Home |
01.23 | Newberry | 8:00 PM | Away |
01.26 | Lincoln Memorial | 4:00 PM | Home |
01.30 | Wingate | 8:00 PM | Away |
02.02 | Mars Hill | 4:00 PM | Home |
02.06 | Queens | 8:00 PM | Home |
02.09 | Carson-Newman | 4:00 PM | Away |
02.13 | Catawba | 8:00 PM | Home |
02.16 | Anderson | 4:00 PM | Away |
02.20 | Lenoir-Rhyne | 8:00 PM | Away |
02.23 | Tusculum | 4:00 PM | Home |
02.27 | Newberry | 8:00 PM | Home |
SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE STANDINGS
Carson-Newman | 0-0 Conference | 2-0 Overall
Lenoir-Rhyne | 0-0 Conference | 2-0 Overall
Queens | 0-0 Conference | 3-1 Overall
Anderson | 0-0 Conference | 1-1 Overall
Catawba | 0-0 Conference | 1-1 Overall
Lincoln Memorial | 0-0 Conference | 1-1 Overall
Wingate | 0-0 Conference | 1-1 Overall
Coker | 0-0 Conference | 0-0 Overall
Mars Hill | 0-0 Conference | 0-2 Overall
Newberry | 0-0 Conference | 0-2 Overall
Tusculum | 0-0 Conference | 0-2 Overall
Barton vs Coker
Tuesday, November 13th | 7:00 PM | DeLoach Center
Barton finished 17-13 last season, including a 12-6 mark in Conference Carolinas play. The Bulldogs return all five starters including forward Bobby Stenborg who averaged a team-high 16.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game last season.
Barton was picked by coaches to finish first in Conference Carolinas in the 2018-19 men's basketball preseason poll. The Bulldogs and Cobras last met on Feb. 6, 2013 when Coker won 94-90 in triple overtime.
Player to Watch
The 6-1 guard out of Trinity Christian School (Clinton, N.C.) is a former Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year selection. He averaged 12.4 points and 3.3 assists per game last year, and is off to an even better start through two games this season. Boykin scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds while knocking down three of four three-pointers in the Bulldogs' win over Augusta on Friday (Nov.10).
STATISTICAL LEADERS
POINTS | Bobby Stenborg - 18.5 ppg
REBOUNDS | Bobby Stenborg - 7.0 rpg
ASSISTS | Matt Woods - 4.0 apg
BLOCKS | Three tied - 1
STEALS | Matt Woods - 3
Barton Roster
2018-19 Bulldogs Men's Basketball Roster
1 Matt Woods G 6-2 175 Sr. Swannanoa, N.C. Elev8 Prep
3 Jake Kakar G 6-3 180 So. Boston, Mass. The MacDuffie School
4 Michael Boykin G 6-1 175 Jr. Clinton, N.C. Trinity Christian School
5 Imrie Worley G 6-0 180 So. Woodbridge, Va. Woodbridge HS
10 Isaiah Reddish F 6-5 185 So. Durham, N.C. Riverside HS
12 Shemar Hudson G 5-7 130 So. Wilson, N.C. James B. Hunt HS
14 Zach Grant G 5-11 160 Sr. Richmond, Va. Amelia Acad.
15 David Campbell G 6-3 175 So. Severn, Md. Mt. Zion Prep
20 Leland Hampton G 6-1 175 Fr.-RS North Chesterfield, Va. Amelia Acad.
22 Kobe Baird G 6-0 160 Fr. Melbourne, AUSTRALIA Wesley Coll.
23 P.J. Savage G 5-11 160 Fr. Garner, N.C. Wake Christian Acad.
24 Bobby Stenborg F 6-5 200 Sr. Garner, N.C. Brunswick CC
30 Trey Scoggins G 6-0 185 So. Louisburg, N.C. Louisburg HS
31 Jeff Gordon G 6-3 180 Jr. Woodbridge, Va. Potomac HS
32 Isaiah Jones G 6-3 210 Sr. Raleigh, N.C. Davis & Elkins Coll.
33 Eli Batts G 6-2 175 Fr. Stantonsburg, N.C. Charles B. Aycock HS
34 Blake Burdack F 6-8 225 So. Melbourne, AUSTRALIA Fork Union Military Acad.
35 Chris Cook F 6-7 195 Sr. Knoxville, Tenn. Roane State CC
40 Isaiah Buck-Lowman F 6-6 215 Jr. Woodbridge, Va. Washington Acad.
Head Coach: Ron Lievense
Associate Head Coach: Joel Zimmerman
Assistant Coaches: Josh Hayes, Stephen Rexrode
Belmont Abbey vs Coker
Wednesday, November 14th | 7:00 PM | DeLoach Center
Belmont Abbey finished 12-17 overall last season, including a 5-13 mark in Conference Carolinas action. The Crusaders entered the Conference Carolinas tournament as the eighth seed, and then upset top-seeded King and fifth-seeded Limestone to advance to the championship. Belmont Abbey ultimately fell to Lees-McRae 75-72 in the Conference Carolinas championship game.
The Crusaders were picked by the coaches to finish sixth in 2018-19 Conference Carolinas men's basketball preseason poll. They defeated the Cobras 83-81 last season when Ben Ferguson hit a three-pointer with 18 seconds remaining to seal a come-from-behind victory. However, the Cobras have won six of the last eight meetings between the two schools.
Player to Watch
Abrom led the Crusaders, averaging 19.8 points per game last season. The Belmont Abbey offense runs through Abrom who scored 23 of his team's 70 points in the Crusaders' 70-53 victory over Mars Hill on Friday (Nov. 10).
STATISICAL LEADERS
POINTS | DeQuan Abrom - 19.5 ppg
REBOUNDS | John Bown - 9.0 rpg
ASSISTS | Myron Carmon - 3.0 apg
BLOCKS | John Bown - 5
STEALS | Three tied - 3
Belmont Abbey Roster
2018-19 Crusaders Men's Basketball Roster
0 LJ McCoy G So. 6-1 Thomasville, N.C. / Westchester Country Day
1 ThankGod Avar F So. 6-7 Lagos, Nigeria / Freedom Christian
2 Myron Carmon G Jr. 5-10 Goldsboro, N.C. / Goldsboro/Olney Central CC
3 Romeao Ferguson G So. 6-5 Burlington, N.C. / The Burlington School/Lincoln Memorial
4 Ben Ferguson G/F Sr. 6-5 High Point, N.C. / Southwest Guilford
5 Sean Halloran G Fr. 5-11 Orlando, Fla. / Boone
10 DeQuan Abrom G Jr. 6-2 Washington, D.C. / Riverdale Baptist/Urbana
20 Brayden Gault G/F Fr. 6-4 Haymarket, Va. / Battlefield
22 Emanuel Hernandez F Fr. 6-5 Hatillo, Puerto Rico / The Masters Academy
24 Aidan Richard F Sr. 6-11 Stanley, N.C. / Gaston Day
32 John Bowen F So. 6-8 Bladenboro, N.C. / West Bladen
42 Milos Galogaza F Fr. 6-8 Belgrade, Serbia / Cape Fear Academy
Head Coach: Billy Taylor
Assistant Coaches: Ryan Saunders and Matthew Graves
WATCH LIVE ON THE COBRA SPORTS NETWORK
Can't make it to the DeLoach Center this weekend? Catch all four games on the Cobra Sports Network via Stretch Internet at the link below.