BABSON PARK, Fla. (February 1, 2018) – In a game that could have nearly guaranteed the Warriors a postseason spot had they won, the Webber International University men's basketball team came up short in the end to the College of Coastal Georgia, falling by three, 71-68, on Thursday night inside the Sabbagh Athletic Center.

Webber (10-10 overall, 6-7 TSC), which began the day fifth in The Sun Conference standings, a half a game behind Southeastern University and a half game ahead of Coastal Georgia (15-9, 7-7), fell to sixth place in the standings, only a half a game ahead of Thomas University for the final playoff spot in the conference tournament.

For the second straight game, senior Osandai Vaughn, the reigning NAIA Division-II National Player of the Week, recorded a double-double. Vaughn finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds, and he also added four assists and four steals.

Vaughn was actually one of two Warriors with four assists as freshman Tommie Luke dished out four helpers while scoring 26 points on 50 percent shooting (10-20) from the field.

The Warriors trailed 11-2 early on and found themselves down by 16, 30-14, with six minutes remaining in the first half.

With just under 16 and a half minutes remaining in the game, Webber trailed by 17, 49-32, before battling all the way back to get within five at 61-56 with 6:56 on the clock as Vaughn, Joseph Serrano and Luke each scored fast break layups on consecutive plays.

Then, with 1:41 left to play, a highlight reel dunk by Luke capped a 7-0 run that got the Warriors to within three at 67-64.

After a score by Nicholas Blocker with only 45 seconds left and a big block by Johnathan Childs on the next Mariners possession, Webber found itself with the ball trailing by three, 66-63, with 19.4 seconds left.

The Warriors proceeded to draw up a quick scoring inbounds play from the sideline as Childs found Luke for a layup to make it 69-68 with 15.8 remaining.

After two Mariner free throws, Webber trailed 71-68 with 12.1 seconds left before a three by Vaughn with six seconds left from the top of the key was off the mark, and then after two missed free throws by the Mariners, the Warriors failed to corral the offensive rebound that would have given them the ball back with under two seconds left to try and tie the game.

Childs started off the game with eight rebounds in the first 10 minutes of action, and finished with a career-high in both rebounds (16) and blocks (7).

Since the Warriors first meeting of the season with the Mariners back on December 9, 2017, Webber has gone 7-5 overall and 5-4 in the conference, but now, with only five games remaining in the season, the Warriors will have some work to do to secure a postseason berth as a date with Thomas University looms next on the schedule.

The Warriors and the Night Hawks will meet up for the second time this season on Saturday, February 3, at 4 p.m. in Thomasville, Georgia. In the first meeting between Webber and Thomas, the Warriors were victorious 89-83 back on December 13 as Luke led four Warriors in double figures in scoring with 20 points.