PENSACOLA, Fla. - Coastal Alabama - North Men's Basketball returned to the court and posted a 1-1 showing at the New Year's Classic hosted by Pensacola State College (Fla.) on Dec. 30-31, highlighted by head coach Chuck Taylor securing the 200th victory of his career with a win over East Mississippi Community College. The Coyotes opened the two-day tournament with a 70-60 victory over East Mississippi, while falling to Pensacola State 67-46 in the finale one day later. Both games were non-conference games for the Yotes.

Coastal Alabama - North's overall record moves to 10-7 during the 2025-26 season ahead of a slew of ACCC games following the New Year's holiday.

200 Wins for Coach Taylor

The Coyotes opened the classic with a 10-point victory over East Mississippi on Tuesday, delivering a consistent offensive effort and a strong defensive performance. Coastal - North shot 46% from the floor, making 29 of 63 total shots, and controlled the glass with a 44-34 rebounding advantage. Additionally, the Yotes recorded five blocks, four steals, and forced 14 turnovers while holding East Mississippi to just 31% shooting from the field.

Eli Pippins led the Coyotes with a near triple-double in the victory, finishing with 17 points, eight rebounds, and a season-high 13 assists. Bryson Holmes added 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting, while Evan Bignell chipped in 13 points off the bench, knocking down three three-pointers. Bryce Wilkins anchored the interior with 11 rebounds, adding six points and a block.

The victory marked fifth-year Head Coach Chuck Taylor's 200th career win at the NJCAA level, a milestone achieved against a quality East Mississippi program. "I've been blessed with a lot of great players and assistant coaches," Coach Taylor said following his 200th career win. "This isn't possible without those guys or the administration who took a chance on me. I salute you all."

Following the final buzzer, the Coyotes celebrated Coach Taylor's historic win in the locker room with a postgame shower with water bottles and Gatorade. 

Yotes Fall to the Pirates

It was back to work the next day as Coastal - North faced host school Pensacola State, eventually falling 67-46 in the finale. The Coyotes were limited to 35.9% shooting and were unable to overcome a free-throw disparity, as Pensacola State converted 19-of-23 attempts at the line.

Jayden Evans led Coastal - North in scoring with nine points off the bench, while Bryson Holmes added eight points and six rebounds. Eli Pippins contributed six points and five assists, and Gabe Stevens provided a small spark with four points in limited minutes. The Yotes could not get anything rolling offensively, with the 46-point performance being the second-lowest scoring total this season for Coastal - North. 

The New Year's Classic served as an important mid-season test for the Coyotes against strong non-conference competition. Coastal Alabama - North exits the event with momentum from a milestone victory and valuable experience as the team prepares for a long stretch of ACCC games.

ACCC Action Ahead in 2026

Coastal - North is set to return to the court in 2026, scheduled for a Jan. 5 road contest at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College (Ala.) in Andalusia, Ala. The return game at LBW is set for 7:00 p.m. CT and will be the first of 10-straight conference games in the ACCC Division II. The Coyotes currently lead the division with a 4-0 mark this season.

 

For coverage of Coastal Alabama North Athletics, follow the Coyotes on social media at /CoastalAlabamaNorth (Facebook), @CoastalAL_north (Twitter), and @coastalal_north (Instagram), or visit the official home of the Coastal Alabama North Athletic Department at https://coastalcoyotessnorth.com/index.aspx.