MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Seniors Rudi Williams and Vince Cole led the Coastal Carolina offense with 26 and 20 points apiece, respectively, but it was not enough as CCU fell in a close contest 84-80 at Middle Tennessee State University in non-conference play.
 
The game was close for all 40 minutes, as the contest had 15 lead changes and five ties in the four-point finish.
 
Williams really got hot in the second half scoring 21 of his 26 points, including scoring 12 of the Chants' final 13 points.
 
The difference was at the free throw line where the Blue Raiders knocked down 18 of their 23 attempts as the Chants were fouling down the stretch to stay in the game.
 
Essam Mostafa picked up his sixth double-double of the season with 19 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Ebrima Dibba had a game-high six assists and another game-high in three steals.
 
MTSU (9-3) had five players reach double digits led by Josh Jefferson with 17. Justin Bufford and Camryn Weston scored 12 points each, while Donovan Sims added 11 and Eli Lawrence finished with 10.
 
The Chanticleers (7-4) shot 46.7 percent (28-of-60) from the field, hit 13-of-25 from beyond the three-point line for 52.0 percent, and knocked down 11-of-16 free throws for 68.8 percent. CCU also outrebounded the Blue Raiders 37-33.
 
MTSU finished the game shooting 45.8 percent (27-of-59) from the field, hit 36.4 percent (12-of-33) on its three-point attempts, and shot 78.3 percent at the free throw line.
 
Cole had 11 points, while Mostafa added nine to lead CCU to a slim 37-35 halftime lead. It was Williams' three with a couple of seconds left in the opening half that gave CCU the lead heading into the locker room.
 
CCU shot 44.8 percent from the field and hit six of their 13 three-point attempts in the first half. However, MTSU shot 48.1 percent in the opening half and hit six of their 17 three-point field goals.
 
Jefferson led the Blue Raiders with nine points in the opening period, while both Dishaman and King added six points.
 
Coastal will take a few days off for the holidays and will be back in action to open Sun Belt Conference play Thursday, Dec. 30, at 7 p.m. ET when ULM comes to Conway, S.C.
 
For complete coverage of CCU men's basketball, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalMBB (Twitter), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com.