COASTAL CAROLINA OUTDUELS WYOMING IN GAME 1 OF THE CBI FINALS PRESENTED BY FIVE FOUR

March 27, 2017

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Coastal Carolina led for all but a few seconds in taking Game 1 of the best-of-three CBI Finals presented by Five Four with a 91-81 victory over Wyoming. The Chanticleers will look to become just the third team in CBI history to win the title in two games when they travel to Wyoming for Wednesday’s Game 2.

Six Coastal players scored in double figures, led by the 15-point efforts of Jaylen Shaw, Michel Enanga, and Demario Beck. Shaw also posted a game-best eight assists on the night. Elijah Wilson totaled 14 points and six rebounds, Colton Ray-St. Cyr recorded 14 points and seven rebounds before leaving the game with an injured knee, and Artur Labinowicz added 10 points.

Coastal led by as many as 15 points, 34-19, at the 7:37 mark of the first half.

The Cowboys were paced by Jason McManamen, who had 19 points. Alan Herndon had 14 points and five blocked shots, Justin James scored 12 points, and Hayden Dalton ended with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Statistically, the game was quite even. Coastal was 34-of-72 (47%) from the field while Wyoming was 26-of-63 (44%). Wyoming did have the edge in 3-point shooting, making 13-of-34 shots (.38) while Coastal was 8-of-24 (38%). The Cowboys shot better from the line, going 12-of-17 (71%) but the Chants made more free throws in going 15-of-26 (58%). Coastal did hold a 46-34 margin in rebounding.

The 10-point margin of victory for Coastal was the largest in a Finals since Fresno State won at Siena, 89-75, in Game 2 of the 2014 CBI. Siena came back to win the decisive third game.

Only two teams have won the CBI in two games – VCU (2010) and Loyola Chicago (2015). Both also happened to win the title on the road. Six times in the previous nine years the team that won Game 1 went on to win the CBI title.

Game 2 will be played at Arena-Auditorium in Laramie, Wyo. Tip time is 9:00pm ET (7:00pm MT) and will air on ESPNU with Roy Philpott and Corey Williams again calling the action.

Be sure to follow the CBI presented by Five Four on Twitter (@cbitourney), Facebook (College Basketball Invitational), and Instagram (cbitourney).