Conway, S.C. – Josh Meo and Denzel Hines each scored 13 points for Coastal Carolina but it wasn't enough as Marshall pulled away in the second half for a 77-64 victory in a Sun Belt conference game Saturday afternoon at the HTC Center.
 
Hines also led his team with nine rebounds and was a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line, but the result was the Chants' fourth consecutive loss, dropping the team's record to 8-11 overall and 1-6 in the conference. Rasheed Jones and Noah Amenhauser contributed nine points apiece, while Jordan Battle had six points. But it was Hines' effort that was noticed most by his coach.
 
"He's our junkyard dog. That's who he is," said Coastal head coach Justin Gray of his 6'7" senior forward from Fontana, Calif. "But everyone on the team is playing hard out there. We just didn't take care of the basketball well enough in the second half. Kudos to them, however. Marshall is playing really well. And they provided some tough match-ups for us."
 
Marshall had four players in double figures, led by 6'8" forward Obinna Anochili-Killen, who had 23 points, as the Thundering Herd improved to 11-9 overall and 4-3 in the Sun Belt. The two teams traded the lead five times in the second half before the visitors pulled away to lead by 12 points, at 60-48, with eight minutes remaining and then held on to a comfortable lead by making 8-11 free throws down the stretch.
 
Coastal started slow and survived an 16-2 scoring barrage from Marshall out of the gate that made the score 18-6 and slowly recovered to keep it close by the end of the first period. The Chanticleers finished the first half on a 9-2 run, as Battle hit a three-pointer from the key and Meo finished the run with a bucket off an offensive rebound, leaving Coastal just down by 30-29 at the break.
 
From there, Meo hit a short jumper to cap a 6-0 that put Coastal in front 37-35. It was the Chants' first lead since it was 4-2. Coastal also led at 42-41 when Naz Brown worked inside for a tough layup, but Marshall then went on a 7-0 run to take a 48-42 advantage with 12 minutes left and the Thundering Herd held the lead the rest of the way.
 
Coastal shot 21-of-52 from the field (40 percent), but made just 4-of-14 from behind the three-point arc (29 percent). Marshall made six more field goals and four more from three-point range to make the difference.
 
Coastal now has four road games before playing South Alabama at home at 4 p.m. on Feb. 5 (Sat.).
 
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.