Box Score Hartsville, S.C. – Playing on the road for the second time in three days, the Erskine Flying Fleet rallied from a 15 point deficit to close within two points but lost 79 to 74 to the Coker College Cobras in Conference Carolinas men’s basketball action at Timberlake-Lawton Gym.  It was Erskine’s first road loss of the year.

Despite scoring the game’s first bucket, a 3-point shot by junior DeShaun Hall (Inman, SC, Landrum High School), the game began poorly for the Flying Fleet.  Over the first five minutes of play, the Fleet misfired on five attempts, missed four free throw attempts, and turned the ball over three times enabling Coker to score 13 unanswered points.  Freshman Roderick Perkins (Smyrna, GA, Campbell High School) finally ended the Fleet scoring draught with a layup.

Coker maintained their double-digit lead throughout the opening half and extended their lead to their largest margin at 15 points on a 3-point basket by Andrew Morris with a minute remaining in the half.  On the Fleet’s next possession,  Hall converted an old-fashion 3-point play as the half drew to close.  The Fleet trailed 41 to 29 at intermission.

Erskine came out firing in the second half, crawling to within two points at 50 to 48 after a 3-point basket by senior Corey Sorrell (Walton, KY, Holy Cross High School).  The Fleet could draw no closer losing 79 to 74.

Sorrell led a quartet of Fleet players who finished in double-figures.  Sorrell scored 22 points while Perkins ended with 21 points along with a team-high 7 rebounds and 5 steals.  Hall finished with 12 points and a season-high 8 assists and Jake Haslam (Lithia, FL, Tampa Preparatory School) knocked down five shots, including four 3-pointers, for 14 points.

The Cobras got a big night from Julian Nelson who scored a season-high 34 points, going 11 of 17 from the floor, including a sizzling 5 of 6 from behind the arc.  Sharod Williams added a “double-double” with 11 points and a game-high 10 boards while Morris ended with 11 points.

Erskine travels to Pfeiffer University this Saturday.  Game time is set for 4:00 p.m.