PENSACOLA, Fla. – Coastal Carolina saw its season come to an end Tuesday night with a 66-63 loss to Southern Miss in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament at the Pensacola Bay Center.
 
The Chanticleers (10-22) held a 10-point lead early in the second half but were unable to hold off a late push by the Golden Eagles (11-21), who closed the game on an 8-2 run. Coastal had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but Colin Granger's tip-in attempt at the buzzer missed the mark.
 
Granger led the Chanticleers with 19 points and six rebounds, while Jordan Battle added 13 points and five boards. Coastal struggled from the field, shooting just 35.2 percent (19-of-54) and 23.1 percent (6-of-26) from three-point range.
 
Southern Miss was paced by Alfred Worrell Jr., who scored a game-high 22 points, including two crucial free throws with 10 seconds remaining. DeAntoni Gordon added 12 points and eight rebounds for the Golden Eagles, who shot 37.1 percent (23-of-62) from the floor.
 
The teams were tied at 29 at halftime, but Coastal built a double-digit lead early in the second half before Southern Miss chipped away. The Golden Eagles took their first lead of the second half with under a minute to play on a jumper by Gordon, and Worrell's free throws sealed the victory.
 
The loss ends Coastal Carolina's season, while Southern Miss advances to the second round of the Sun Belt Tournament.