NEWBERRY – The Newberry College men's basketball team dropped a hotly contested battle with visiting Coker on Saturday afternoon in Eleazer Arena, 100-97.

Newberry (3-10, 2-6 South Atlantic Conference) had five players reach double figures: James Lovorn (26 points); Jalen Johnson (20); Caleb Byrd (18); Devario Sheppard (12); and Malik Joseph (11).

Lovorn's output was a season-high and Johnson and Byrd set new career-highs. Johnson also recorded a team-best 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. Sheppard tied his season-high with six assists.

It was evident early that the Wolves and Cobras (9-6, 5-3 South Atlantic Conference) were in for a high-scoring affair as the score read 26-23 Newberry just 10 minutes into the game.

The Wolves extended their lead slightly to 34-29 by the 7:44 mark of the opening half before Coker brought it back within two at 42-40 with five minutes to play. Newberry went on a 7-0 run capped by a 3-pointer from Byrd to get some breathing room in the form of a nine-point advantage two minutes later.

The Cobras trimmed their deficit to four by halftime, 52-48.

Coker started the second half with an 8-0 run over two minutes to quickly retake a 56-52 lead. A similarly quick response from the Scarlet and Gray made it 56-all and it was tied again at 66 with 13:20 left in the game.

A 9-2 Wolves run that included back-to-back Lovorn 3s staked Newberry to a 75-68 advantage at the 12-minute mark before Coker cut the lead to one, 79-78, with 9:44 remaining.

The visitors regained an 89-88 lead with 3:53 to play though Byrd had an answer on the other end to make it 90-89 Wolves on the next possession. Coker got some wiggle room after an 11-4 run made it 100-94 with 30 seconds left.

After Downs made the front end of a one-and-one but missed the second, Lovorn was able to go coast-to-coast and get a layup off a Cobra missed free throw to make it 100-97. Another missed free throw from Coker gave the Wolves one more chance to tie the game but Johnson couldn't get a 3-pointer to go at the buzzer.

For the afternoon, the Wolves outrebounded the Cobras 36-32 and their bench outscored the visitors' 20-16. Newberry's 97 points and 34 shots made were both season-highs, while their 11 made 3s and 18 assists tied season-bests.

Newberry will hit the road for their next game on Wednesday, Jan. 17 in Gaffney against Limestone. Tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.