Box Score

Wingate, N.C.----Coker College senior forward Mason Ambler (Atlanta, Ga.) scored a career-high 32 points as the visiting Cobras rallied for a 72-67 NCAA Division II men’s basketball victory over Wingate University Monday night in Cuddy Arena. Ambler added nine rebounds, two assists and two steals to his statistics ledger.

With the victory, Coker levels its season record at 4-4 overall. The home-standing Bulldogs are 5-4 overall. Wingate hosts Mount Olive College Wednesday night at 8 p.m. Coker takes a Christmas break, returning to the hardwood Jan. 7 for a home contest against St. Andrews Presbyterian College (7:30 p.m. tip-off).

Coker junior guard Vatrick Thompson (West Columbia, S.C.) added 17 points for the visitors. He hit three-of-three from downtown Monday night. Thompson also hit six-of-six second half free throws, after not attempting a charity toss in the first frame.

Wingate senior guard Larry Staley (Charlotte, N.C.) scored a career-high 26 points for the Bulldogs. Staley hit eight-of-12 field goals and nine-of-10 free throws Monday night. Nine Bulldogs scored, but Staley was the only Wingate player in double figures. Bulldog freshman forward Quan Alexander (Charlotte, N.C.) added nine points, three rebounds and three steals for the hosts.

The South Atlantic Conference-member Bulldogs led for 36 minutes, until Coker took its first lead on a tip-in by junior forward Liam Kyle (Cleveland, Ohio) at the 3:59 mark of the second half. Kyle’s put-back gave the Cobras a 62-61 edge. 

On the next Coker possession, Ambler converted a traditional three-point play to put the visitors up 65-61 with 3:01 remaining in the contest. Wingate was not done, as freshman guard Paidrick Matilus (Boynton Beach, Fla.) hit a 15-footer to cut the deficit to 65-63 with 2:52 to go.

Wingate tied the contest for the third and final time on the Bulldogs’ next trip down the court. Alexander calmly drained two free throws to tie the game at 65-65 with 1:53 left to play.

Coker junior guard Ryan Aijian (Santa Barbara, Calif.) missed two free throws at 1:37, but he wiggled his way to the loose ball and grabbed the rebound to give the Cobras another shot clock. Thompson was fouled at the 1:15 plateau and he made both charity tosses to give Coker the lead for good at 67-65.

After a Wingate miss, Aijian made one-of-two free throws to put Coker up 68-65 with 33 seconds left in regulation. Bulldog sophomore guard Jaime Vaughn (McDonough, Ga.) made a floater in the paint to cut the Coker lead to 68-67 with 21 seconds remaining.

Thanks to relentless pressure by the Bulldogs, Coker committed a turnover in the backcourt with 17 seconds to play. Vaughn picked up the steal for the hosts. Wingate freshman center Odell Turner (Charlotte, N.C.) had his potential game-winning shot blocked by Ambler, but the rebound went out of bounds to the Bulldogs with nine seconds to go.

Wingate committed a turnover and Ambler was there for the steal. Thompson and Ambler combined to convert four-of-four free throws in the waning moments to account for the final margin.

The Cobras hit 12-of-21 field goals in the decisive second half, good for 57.1 percent. For the game, Coker hit 45.8 percent from the floor (22-of-48). The visitors converted 24-of-32 free throws (75 percent), including 18-of-23 after intermission (78.3 percent). Thanks to Ambler’s efforts, Coker outscored Wingate 34-22 in the paint.

Wingate hit 44.4 percent of its shots from the floor (24-of-54). The hosts hit 16-of-23 charity tosses (69.6 percent). The Bulldogs lost the rebounding battle by a slim 32-31 margin. Vaughn led the ‘Dogs with five boards. The 2009 All-SAC freshman team member collected seven points and three steals as well.

The Bulldogs led by as many as eight points in the early going. Wingate led 31-28 at halftime, thanks to eight first-half points by Staley and five points each from Vaughn and sophomore forward Bradley Van Staalduinen (Pantego, N.C.). The first career three-point field goal by Van Staalduinen put Wingate up 31-25 with 1:26 to go in the opening frame. Coker answered with a triple to account for the halftime tally.