CONWAY, S.C. (Interstat) — Coastal Carolina survived a second-half surge from Marshall to win 79-75 in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at HTC Center. The Chanticleers led 36-24 at halftime, but the Thundering Herd scored 51 second-half points to close the gap. Coastal Carolina secured the win at the free-throw line, making 24 of 34 attempts compared to Marshall’s 16 of 18. RaSheed Jones led Coastal Carolina with 29 points. Nadjrick Peat added 13 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocks. Jalen Speer scored a game-high 39 points for Marshall in the losing effort. Attendance was 2,140.

CONWAY, S.C. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dominant interior presence and a furious second-half rally that fell just short, Coastal Carolina held off Marshall 79-75 in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at HTC Center. The Chanticleers, led by a monumental performance from center Nadjrick Peat, built a 12-point halftime lead and withstood a 39-point explosion from Marshall’s Jalen Speer in the second half to secure the victory in front of 2,140 fans. The most critical phase of the game came in the final three minutes, as Marshall, which trailed by as many as 15 points in the second half, clawed to within a single possession. Speer’s driving layup with 20 seconds remaining cut the Coastal Carolina lead to 78-75. After a timeout, the Thundering Herd immediately fouled Coastal Carolina’s Joshua Beadle, who made the first of two free throws to extend the lead to four with seven seconds left. He missed the second, but Marshall’s desperation three-point attempt by Wilson Dubinsky as time expired was off the mark, sealing the win for the home team. The foundation for Coastal Carolina’s victory was laid in the first half and reinforced by its defense at the rim. The Chanticleers blocked 10 shots, with Peat, a 6-foot-10 junior from Alexandria, Jamaica, swatting seven by himself. He also recorded a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, controlling the paint on both ends. His presence forced Marshall into a 27-for-71 shooting performance overall. While the Thundering Herd scored 51 second-half points, they struggled to finish consistently inside against Peat’s length. Coastal Carolina guard RaSheed Jones, the team’s top star, led all scorers with 29 points, including four three-pointers. He was instrumental in building the first-half advantage, scoring 14 before the break. Beadle added 18 points and six rebounds for the Chanticleers. Marshall’s comeback attempt was almost single-handedly engineered by Speer. After being held to just seven points in the first half, he erupted for 32 in the second, finishing with 39 points on 12-of-26 shooting. He was particularly effective getting to the free-throw line, making 12 of 14 attempts. Noah Otshudi provided strong support with 18 points for the Thundering Herd. Despite shooting a lower percentage from the field, Coastal Carolina won the game at the free-throw line, making 24 of 34 attempts compared to Marshall’s 16 of 18. The Chanticleers also capitalized on their possessions more efficiently, posting an offensive rating of 102.4 points per 100 possessions against Marshall’s 94.3. Marshall won several hustle categories, scoring 19 points off 13 Coastal Carolina turnovers, posting a 16-9 advantage in fastbreak points, and outscoring the Chanticleers 32-24 in the paint. But they could not overcome the early deficit or solve Peat’s rim protection when it mattered most. The game was a reversal of the teams’ first meeting on Jan. 14, which Coastal Carolina also won by two points, 85-83. With the win, Coastal Carolina improves to 17-12 overall. Marshall falls to 18-11. Both teams continue Sun Belt play on Tuesday, with Coastal Carolina traveling to face Georgia State and Marshall returning home to host Old Dominion.

CONWAY, S.C. (Interstat) — A pivotal Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball matchup with postseason implications is set for Saturday when the Marshall Thundering Herd visits the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at HTC Center. Marshall (17-10) enters having won three of its last four, including an 84-80 home victory over South Alabama on Monday. Coastal Carolina (16-12) looks to rebound from a narrow 67-65 home loss to James Madison on Wednesday. The game features a compelling rematch from Jan. 14, when the Chanticleers edged the Thundering Herd 85-83 in Huntington, West Virginia. Saturday’s contest could prove critical for seeding in the upcoming conference tournament. A key matchup will be between two of the league’s top scorers. Marshall’s Wyatt Fricks is averaging 21.3 points over his last six games, coming off a 27-point, five-block performance against South Alabama. For Coastal Carolina, Joshua Beadle has been on a tear, scoring 29 and 31 points in his last two outings, respectively. The Thundering Herd have shown resilience in close games, with three of their last five wins decided by four points or fewer. However, road consistency has been an issue, as seen in a 101-87 loss at Georgia Southern on Feb. 14. Coastal Carolina has experienced similar volatility, mixing a triple-overtime win over Massachusetts with recent tight losses to Arkansas State and James Madison. The Chanticleers will rely on home-court advantage, where they are 11-4 this season. Marshall’s offense, facilitated by guards Jalen Speer and Noah Otshudi, will test a Coastal Carolina defense that has allowed an average of 68.2 points in conference play. Conversely, containing Beadle’s hot hand will be a primary focus for the Thundering Herd. Tipoff is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, in Conway.