HARTSVILLE, S.C. --- Coker College recorded a school single-game record 16 three-pointers while holding off a second half Tusculum College charge as the Cobras defeated the visiting Pioneers 91-78 Saturday afternoon at Timerlake-Lawton Gymnasium in the inaugural meeting between the two programs.

Coker's Julian Nelson poured in a game-high 31 points as he shot 9-of-17 from the floor, including 6-of-9 from three-point territory. Errick Bethel added 22 points off the bench as he fired 6-of-10 from beyond the arc, while Trey Marshall finished with 17 points, including his three treys. Teon Beckett posted a double-double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

TC's Jalen Walker and Darius Carter accounted for 14 points each, while Neal Spinks and Chase Mounce added nine markers apiece. Addison Flynn tallied eight points and three assists, while Matt Shown poured in eight points on 4-of-5 shooting off the bench. Keith Jumper contributed seven points and a team-high nine rebounds off the bench.

Coker (9-7, 6-6 SAC) fired 16-of-29 from three-point land (55.2%), including 10-of-19 in the first half as the Cobras raced out to a 17-point lead in the first half.

Both teams jumped out to sluggish starts as Tusculum led 2-0 at the first media timeout as the two squads combined to shoot 1-of-17 in the first four minutes, including 0-of-10 by the Cobras.

Coker responded by connecting on its next eight shots, including five 3-pointers for a 24-16 lead at the 10:44 mark of the period.

Coker used an 11-3 spurt to take its largest lead of the afternoon at 45-28 following a three-pointer by Nelson with 2:53 remaining before halftime.

Tusculum (2-16, 1-11 SAC) scored the final five points of the half thanks to a pair of Walker free throws and a Carter three-point play as Coker lead 47-35 at the intermission.

The Pioneers extended their run into the second half opening the second period with an 11-4 spurt as TC whittled the deficit to 51-46 with 16:28 remaining. Fisher, Walker and Flynn drained three treys in a row, while Spinks connected on a layup as TC completed a 16-4 run that spanned the two halves.

Leading 53-48 with 15:28 left, the Cobras went on another 3-point barrage to spark a 9-1 spurt to increase their lead to 62-49 with 13:56 remaining on the clock.

Tusculum responded with a 10-1 run of its own to get back to within four of the Cobras at 63-59 thanks to five points from Walker.

Beckett pushed the lead back to six (67-61) after his layup at the 9:32 mark, but Carter converted another three-point play on TC's ensuing possession to bring the Pioneers back to within a possession (67-64) with 9:13 to go.

But the Pioneers would not get any closer as Coker went on a 15-5 run following an Eren Moses jumper to take an 82-69 advantage with 4:33 left. It would be a double-digit lead that the Cobras would not surrender.

Coker finished the contest shooting 44.4 percent from the floor, including 28-of-53 after missing its first 10 shots to start the game. The Cobras also fired 19-of-28 from the free throw line, including 16-of-23 in the second half.

Tusculum shot well from the floor, gunning 30-of-57 (52.6%), including 17-of-30 in the second half (57%).

The Pioneers will be on the road Wednesday night to face cross-mountain rival Mars Hill University for an 8 p.m. contest at Stanford Arena.

- TC -