Athens, Tx- The Coastal Bend College men's basketball team travelled to Athen, Tx on November 28th for their first Region XIV Conference game of the season versus Trinity Valley Community College. Currently ranked at #15 (as of 10-29-2018) in the nation, the Cougars would face a stout Cardinal team that has won 10 out of the last 11 games to begin the season.
Coastal Bend jumped out to a 12 to 1 lead over TVCC in the opening moments of the first half. The Cardinals responded with a run of their own, scoring 14 points to the Cougars three during that stretch to tie the game, 15 to15, with 14 minutes until halftime. Up 23 to 20, the Cougars had a few lapses on Defense and poor ball security for the Cardinals to go on another run, this time for eight points, as CBC trailed 28 to 23 lead with 8:10 to go until intermission. Coastal Bend fought back and with five minutes left, the Cougars trailed 32 to 30. The Cougars got a boost from Peyton Hardin who hit a layup with plus two free throws and a three-point field goal by Charles Callier cut the lead to 41 to 37 with three minutes remaining. But the Cardinals closed the first half with a 10 to 2 run and led 51 to 39 at the break. Coastal Bend trailed 57 to 45 with 16:48 left to play, but went on a 10 to 2 stretch, including five points from Callier to lessen the lead to 59 to 55 with 13:07 to go in the second half of the contest. TVCC then went on to score seven points in a row to increase their lead again. CBC played hard till the end, but turnovers and hot shooting from TVCC would out the game out of reach for a Cougar victory.
Coastal Bend Guard, Charles Callier led the Cougars in scoring with 29 points and added two rebounds and two assits to his stat line. Guard, Gerald Thomas netted 16 points while compling four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Center, Elijah Moleon recorded a Double-Double with 14 points and 10 rebounds for the game.
The Cougars will be back in action Saturday, December 1st as they host Kilgore College for their Home Region XIV Conference opener. Tip-Off is at 3:00 PM at the Peter S. Marecek Physical Fitness Center.
Photo Credit: Chuck Merickel, Athens Daily Review