BRUNSWICK, Ga. -- Southeastern Men's Basketball pushed a Sun Conference road game to the limit Wednesday night but ultimately fell 90–87 in overtime to Coastal Georgia. The Fire erased a double-digit second-half deficit and forced extra time behind a season-best scoring performance from
Jayson Nixon, but Coastal Georgia's efficiency at the free-throw line proved decisive in the closing moments.
Coastal Georgia set the early tone by turning defense into offense, capitalizing on turnovers and attacking the lane to build momentum in the opening half. SEU countered with strong shooting, connecting on more than 53 percent of its attempts before the break, but the Mariners' late run pushed the halftime score to 45–37.
Anthony Kangah provided an early spark from beyond the arc, while
Daivion Traylor finished efficiently inside to keep the Fire within striking distance.
The second half belonged to Southeastern's response and resolve. The Fire tightened defensively and shared the ball more effectively, trimming the margin possession by possession. Nixon ignited the comeback with confident threes and aggressive drives, repeatedly answering Coastal Georgia baskets to halt runs. Southeastern shot 51.7 percent after halftime and outscored the Mariners 41–33 in the second half, steadily working back from a deficit that had grown to 15.
Down the stretch, Nixon took control. The junior guard scored or assisted on multiple late possessions, drilling a three to cut the margin to two before attacking the rim in the final minute to tie the game at 76–76. His poise under pressure sent the game to overtime after Coastal Georgia missed a potential winner in the closing seconds.
Overtime came down to free throws and late possessions. Southeastern continued to score, posting nine points in the extra period, but Coastal Georgia went 6-of-7 at the line in overtime and 23-of-28 overall. Nixon again delivered in the clutch, knocking down a deep three and finishing a layup with 18 seconds remaining to pull the Fire within one, but the Mariners sealed the outcome at the stripe.
Nixon finished with a season-high 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting, including five three-pointers, while playing 42 minutes. Kangah complemented him with 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting and four triples, giving Southeastern a potent perimeter tandem. Traylor added 18 points on an efficient 7-of-10 from the field, consistently finishing through contact and anchoring the interior offense.
LaDavian King contributed 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while
Mylo Santos added seven points and five assists to help orchestrate the comeback.
As a team, Southeastern shot 51.6 percent from the floor, scored 42 points in the paint, and held a 30–24 edge on the glass. The Fire posted 18 assists on 33 made field goals, reflecting ball movement and balance, though 16 turnovers led to 20 Coastal Georgia points and proved costly in a tight contest.
Southeastern (18–4, 7–3 Sun Conference) will look to bounce back quickly as it returns home for its next conference test on Saturday at 7 p.m., hosting Webber International inside The Furnace.
