SAN MARCOS, Texas – Vince Cole scored 14 points, all in the second half, and freshman Josh Uduje added 12, but Coastal Carolina fell at Texas State 69-64 Saturday evening in San Marcos, Texas.
 
The Chants (12-10/4-6 Sun Belt) battled back from a 61-51 deficit with just over four minutes remaining to close the score to 61-59 on two Essam Mostafa free throws but could not get any closer as the Bobcats scored their final points on two three-point field goals and off an offensive rebound to keep the Chanticleers just out of reach.
 
Mostafa finished the game with his 11th double-double of the season, scoring 11 points and picking up a game-high 12 rebounds. Rudi Williams added 10 points and Ebrima Dibba scored nine and also had a game-high six assists. To go along with his points total, Cole rounded out a terrific game with five rebounds, three assists, a game-high three steals, and a blocked shot.
 
Turnovers were a major factor in the game with the Bobcats scoring 24 points off 16 CCU turnovers. The Chants had 10 steals and forced 13 turnovers on which they scored 18 points.
 
Isiah Small scored a game-high 15 points for the Bobcats, including a game-sealing three-pointer with 33 seconds left in the game. Shelby Adams tallied 13 points with Mason Harrell adding 12 and Caleb Asberry scoring 11 as Texas State moved to 15-6 overall and 6-3 in Sun Belt action with the win.
 
TXST grabbed 33 rebounds compared to 32 for CCU. A total of 12 of the Bobcats rebounds were on the offensive end and led to 11 second-chance points.
 
Texas State finished the game shooting 44.6 percent from the field and hit 8-of-21 three-pointers for 38 percent. CCU shot 43.1 percent from the field and hit 6-of-18 three-point attempts for 33.3 percent. The Chants also hit 14 of their 15 free throws for a season-best 93.3 percent from the line.
 
Both teams shot under 40 percent in the first half and turnovers led to multiple points as the teams were even at 29 heading into the locker room at halftime.
 
Uduje led CCU with eight points and Mostafa had seven points and seven rebounds in the opening half. CCU took advantage of eight Bobcat miscues to score 14 points off turnovers in the first 20 minutes.
 
Adams had six points to lead the Bobcats with another three players scoring four each. Texas State scored 15 points off 12 first-half CCU turnovers.
 
The Chants will be back home to host four consecutive conference games beginning with a visit from Georgia State on Thursday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m. ET.
 
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 www.GoCCUsports.com.