Coastal bulldozes past Ferrum in season opener

Coastal Carolina’s men’s basketball team kicked off their season with a 91-47 thrashing of NCAA Division III Ferrum College on Tuesday, Nov. 6 at the HTC Center.

While the game started off fairly competitive, Coastal pulled away with a 21-0 run late in the first half to head into halftime with a 30 point lead and never looked back. Ferrum came within nine points of the Chanticleers at the 11:07 mark in the first half but an all-out attack that lasted for almost eight minutes from Coastal gave the Chants at 30-point lead before Ferrum scored their next basket at the 3:29 mark of the first half.

The Chanticleers dominated all facets of the game with six players touching double digit point totals and shooting a remarkable 52% as a team. Coastal demonstrated their prowess in the paint by out-rebounding Ferrum 39-24 and scoring more than half of their points inside the paint.

For Coastal Carolina, senior forward Zac Cuthberson led the charge with 18 points and 7 rebounds in the opening contest of the season for the Chanticleers.

Chanticleer head coach Cliff Ellis seemed pleased with how the first game went for his group, focusing specifically on the effort he saw from each of his players.

“Our energy level was there, and I think our press made a difference,” said Ellis postgame.

Playing a Division III team to start the year provided Coastal Carolina with the ability to give each player some game-action with a focus on good things to come from both this year’s squad and beyond. Ellis played all 12 members of his roster for at least some portion of the contest.

The Chanticleers head to Buies Creek, N.C. to take on former Big South Conference foe Campbell on Friday, Nov. 9 to continue their season. That game against Campbell is the beginning of a five-game road trip for the Chanticleers that features an appearance at the North Kentucky Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Tip-off for Coastal and Campbell is at 7:30 p.m.