United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Men's Basketball - Wheaton Rallies from 20 Down, but Bears Win

NORTON, MASS.--(1/20/10)--Junior Jevon James had a season-high 20 points to go with a game-high 13 rebounds as Coast Guard squandered a 20 point second half lead, but came back to beat Wheaton 80-76 in a wild New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) game.

The Bears (6-9, 3-2) are off to their best start in conference play in ten years. Coast Guard began the 1999-2000 season with a 6-2 record in NEWMAC play.

Coast Guard scored nine straight and 15 of the final 21 points in the first half to build a 46-31 lead at the break behind 14 points from freshman Greg Marshall. Coast Guard had its largest lead of the half at 46-29 following a 3-pointer by Marshall with 26 seconds left.

Junior Adam Radtke buried a 3-pointer with 18:06 left in the game as the Bears took their largest lead of the night 53-33 and appeared to be in control.

Trailing 60-45 at the 11:40 mark, Wheaton rattled off 22 of the game's next 27 points in taking its lone lead of the contest, at 67-65 thanks to a Ben Stehle tip-in with 4:27 to play. A 3-pointer by freshman Ed Gailor and a layup by Marshall gave the Bears a 70-67 lead before a Brendan Faucher 3-pointer tied it at 70-70 with 3:05 left.

James responded with consecutive baskets in 44 seconds to give the Bears a 74-70 edge with 1:49 left, and the Bears maintained at least a three-point edge until junior Anthony Coppola drained a three with seven seconds left on the clock to pull the Lyons within two at 78-76.

With Wheaton forced to foul, Gailor sank two freebies with four seconds left to seal the win.

Degnan paced Wheaton with 17 points. Coppola returned from injury to drop in 16 points off the bench, while freshman Scott Faucher added 13 points in the loss for Wheaton (5-10, 1-4), which has dropped four straight.

James was 9-of-14 from the floor. Marshall finished with 19 points, while Radtke and Gailor added 11 and 10 points respectively.

Coast Guard shot 51.6 percent from the field (32-62) while making 10 of 24 from 3-point range.

In the opening half, Coast Guard shot 55.6 percent from the floor and 46.2 percent beyond the three-point arc while committing just five turnovers.

The Lyons stayed close early, trailing 8-7 at the 16-minute mark and 19-17 at 10:28, before the Bears went on a 21-8 run over 6:19 for a 40-25 advantage with 3:59 to go.