Nov. 17, 2009

Box Score

DURHAM, N.C. - Joseph Harris and Mario Edwards had 23 and 20 points, respectively, as the Coastal Carolina University men's basketball team (2-1) had as much as a 29-point lead in its 69-46 win over Elon (1-2) in the East Region consolation game of the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off Nov. 17 in Durham, N.C.

The Chanticleers shot 53.8 percent from the floor and was 59.3 percent in the first half. The Chants went up 7-2 at 15:51 on a three from Logan Johnson. Elon would cut the lead to 7-6 on a Josh Bonney jumper, but Edwards answered with a three at 14:17. Another three by Bonney at 12:48 was followed by four straight Coastal points on free throws from Edwards and a jumper from Harris. A Coastal 8-0 run was capped by a Harris layup at 5:45. The Chants led by as much as 14 points (34-20) on an Edwards' layup.

Harris had 12 points and seven rebounds at the break, while Edwards had 11 points. Sam McLaurin added four points, five rebounds and three blocked shots. For Elon, Bonney had seven points while Adam Constantine had six points and three rebounds.

Coastal Carolina led by double figures for most of the second half. Harris' layup at 17:01 made it 42-27. The Chants built a 22-point lead (54-32) at 11:55 on a three from Chad Gray. Coastal built its biggest lead at the six-minute mark at Harris' tip-in made it 63-34 Chants.

Harris now is just three points away from the 1,000-point mark in his career as he made it a double-double with 15 rebounds. Edwards had four rebounds to go along with his 20 points. McLaurin reached double figures in rebounds for the first time in his career with 11 and added five blocks. For Elon, Drew Spradlin and Bonney had 11 points apiece, while Constantine had seven rebounds.

The Chanticleers outrebounded Elon 45-26 and had all eight blocked shots. Coastal also held Elon to a 28.3 shooting percentage.

Coastal Carolina returns to Kimbel Arena Saturday, Nov. 21 against Voorhees. Tip off is at 2 p.m.