CCU upsets Utah in round one of the Myrtle Beach Invitational

Coastal Carolina opened the Myrtle Beach Invitational hosted at the HTC Center as the third game of the night on Thursday, Nov. 21, defeating a Pac 12 team, the University of Utah 79-57, a shocking yet exciting win for our very own Chanticleers.

The tournament is an early-season tournament for 12 Division 1 teams across the country who come to the campus of Coastal Carolina and complete. As it enters its 2nd year, the competition is getting even better, as it includes teams like Baylor University, Mississippi State, and the 2018 National Champions, Villanova (ESPN Events).

The starters included Ebrima Dibba, Devante Jones, and Tyrell Gumbs-Frater at the guard position while Garrick Green and Tommy Burton played down low as forwards.

Utah won the tip, but that did not discourage the Chants, as Dibba, ending the night with 19 points and 7 rebounds, a career high and Burton with 12, scored the first four points in the game. Jones also closed the night with 16 points and 4 rebounds.

Junior Keishawn Brewton came off the bench and put on a show for the crowd ending the night with a quick 22 points; shooting 6 for 9 from the three-point line.

Utah’s leading scorers included forward Timmy Allen with 15 points and 9 rebounds, while 7-foot forward Brandon Carlson chipped in 8 points. Despite Utah’s height on the floor, a few players being 7 foot or taller, the men kept the rebounds on each side almost even, not letting themselves get pushed around.

The students took advantage of the free entrance to the game and the stands were the most packed that they have been all season, cheering on our fellow Chanticleers until the buzzer sounded.