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Coastal Carolina put on a dominant performance in the paint, leading the Chanticleers to a 103-54 victory over Virginia University of Lynchburg at the HTC Center.
The Chanticleers dominated the post, outscoring the Dragons 58-20 in the paint. Coastal also outrebounded VUL by 36, pulling down 70 total rebounds, including 24 offensive boards. While the Chanticleers continued to struggle from the three-point line, they were still able to secure their second consecutive victory in dominant fashion.
Despite playing their third game in three days with only five players available, the Dragons were able to hang with the Chants early. After Coastal’s lead was cut to 28-23, head coach Justin Gray called a timeout, visibly unhappy with his team’s intensity.
“I thought we were a little lax with the ball and turning the ball over,” Gray explained. “I just said we have to pick the intensity up.”
Following the timeout, the Chants went on a run, eventually taking a 55-32 lead into halftime. Jaylen Cross led Coastal at the break with 13 points and 14 rebounds. Ten other players also got on the scoreboard in the first 20 minutes, with all 12 Chanticleers who saw the court playing at least four minutes.
The dominance Coastal showed to close the first half carried over after the break, as the Chanticleers quickly extended their lead to more than 30 points. Gray eventually pulled all five starters just five minutes into the second half, allowing the bench to play the remaining 15 minutes.
Coastal’s lead continued to grow throughout the final 15 minutes, with the Chants eventually securing the 49-point victory. The win marked the Chanticleers’ second of the season and their second in a row.
Cross led the Chants in scoring, finishing with a career-high 16 points while also adding five rebounds. The 6-foot-4 guard credited his teammates and said he focused on playing freely rather than overthinking his performance.
“Just not thinking too much, getting out of your own head, getting out of your own way and just being able to play with the guys I have,” Cross said. “They give me confidence each and every day.”
Drew Fuquay finished with 11 points, while Tristan Thompson added 10. Coastal’s leading scorer on the season, Trey Perry, finished with four points but also contributed eight rebounds and seven assists. Fourteen of the 15 players who saw the court for the Chants were able to get on the scoreboard.
One of those players was Bryson Sams. The freshman appeared in just the second game of his career and is a local product of the Myrtle Beach area. Sams scored his first collegiate basket in the same gym where he grew up watching games, doing so in front of friends and family.
“It was crazy,” Sams said. “Checking in and seeing my family and friends, just knowing they’re here to support me, and to get into the game and score was definitely a surreal memory I’ll remember forever, honestly.”
As a team, Coastal finished with 29 assists, easily its highest mark of the season. Gray was pleased with the team’s willingness to get others involved offensively.
“I always say ‘CBA’s’ — coulda been assists — trying to promote making the right plays, even if we don’t make the shot,” Gray emphasized. “I thought every one of DC’s threes, outside of maybe one of them, was a good shot for him. The ball just didn’t go in. That’s what we’re going to continue to need to do.”
Coastal also dominated in fast-break points, 23-6, and held an advantage in points off turnovers, 11-8. The Chanticleers shot 69.8% from two-point range but struggled from behind the arc, finishing at 27.7%. They also recorded a 55.5% true shooting percentage.
The Dragons were led by Donovan Peterson, who finished with 16 points and six rebounds. Mohamed Diaby also contributed 15 points and seven rebounds.
With the victory, the Chanticleers improve to 2-2 on the season and will head back on the road for a challenging two-game stretch. Coastal will take on Wisconsin on Nov. 15 in Madison before heading to Knoxville to face Tennessee on Nov. 20.