CONWAY, S.C.?The Presbyterian College men's basketball team won its second Division I road game and first Big South Conference game in a dramatic fashion by defeating Coastal Carolina 56-53 in overtime. The victory over the Chanticleers also gives PC its second consecutive win for the first time in Division I history.
A clutch three point play from senior Bryan Bostic (Norcross, Ga./Norcross) with 1:37 left in overtime gave the Blue Hose a five point lead they would hold on to for the rest of the game. Coastal came within three points at 56-53 and had the ball in the last ten seconds, but the PC defense held the Chanticleers from scoring on two opportunities in the waning seconds to earn the 56-53 victory.
Josh Johnson (Hendersonville, Tenn./Hendersonville) led the Blue Hose with 17 points, 14 of which came in the second half. Johnson had four shots from behind the arc in the second half alone, and five of his six field goals came after the halftime break. Bostic also had a huge second half for PC, scoring all of his 11 points and making the three point play to put the Blue Hose up by five in overtime. Al'Lonzo Coleman (Charlotte, N.C./Vance) contributed 12 points and seven rebounds in the game.
PC started the game on a 7-0, holding Coastal Carolina scoreless until 14:20 into the first half. Coleman had four the first seven points for the Blue Hose, while Pierre Miller (Warner Robbins, Ga./Warner Robbins) added a three pointer.
Neither team would score in the next four minutes, and a basket at 10:10 by Coastal's Steven Sexton would cut PC's lead to one at 5-4. Miller and Sexton would trade three pointers in the next minutes, and with five minutes left in the first half the Blue Hose led 16-15.
In the final two minutes of the half the Chanticleers would take their first lead of the game at 19-18 off of a basket by Anthony Breeze. A pair of Coastal free throws in the last minute put the Chanticleers up by three, but a layup from Coleman brought the score to 21-20 going into halftime.
To start the second half Johnson and Bostic took control and scored the first 17 points of the half for PC. After trading baskets for the first 12 minutes, Coastal went on a 7-0 run to take a 47-39 lead with 6:16 left in the regulation.
The Blue Hose battled back, however, and went on a 10-2 run to end the half. Chase Holmes (Spartanburg, S.C./Chesnee) answered with a three pointer, and a jumper by Bostic cut PC's deficit to three points at 47-44. With just over a minute left and still down by three at 49-46, Johnson sank a clutch three point shot to tie the score at 49-49.
PC had the ball with 15 seconds left, but Coastal swatted away the inbound pass and the Blue Hose couldn't get off a shot before time expired, sending the game into overtime.
The Blue Hose scored first in the five minute overtime, and a basket by Coleman gave PC a four point lead with three minutes left. Coastal's Anthony Breeze hit a bucket with just under two minutes left to bring the score to 53-51, but Bostic was fouled on a layup and made the free throw to give PC some breathing room and a five point lead. Coastal would score to make it 56-53 and had possession of the ball in the final ten seconds, but the Blue Hose defense held strong and the Chanticleers missed two opportunities to score to give PC the win.
Coastal was led by Anthony Breeze's 14 points and nine rebounds, and Steven Sexton had 13 points in the loss for the Chanticleers. Coastal falls to 0-1 in conference action and 1-6 overall.
With the win over Coastal, PC advances to 3-4 on the year and 1-0 in Big South play. The Blue Hose secured their second road win at the Division I level just two days after they downed Army 59-43 at West Point, N.Y. The win marks the first time in PC Division I history that the Blue Hose have won two games in a row.
The Blue Hose travel to High Point, N.C. on Saturday, Dec. 6 for their second Big South Conference game of the season and the third of five straight road matches. PC has won its last two games on the road and will be looking for a third against the Panthers. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
