TALLADEGA, Ala. - The regular season could not have unfolded much better for Coastal Alabama - North Men's Basketball. Now, the Coyotes turn their focus to postseason play as the No. 1 seed in the ACCC Division II Men's Basketball Championship Tournament, held at Talladega College in Talladega, Ala.
Coastal Alabama - North hoops in Monroeville, Ala., led by fifth-year head coach Chuck Taylor, enters the tournament as the ACCC Division II Regular Season Champion and will face rival Reid State Technical College (Ala.) in the semifinal round on Friday afternoon, Feb. 27. Friday's game will be broadcasted live on JockJive.com at 4:00 p.m. CT.
The Coyotes, 22-8 overall and 15-1 in conference action, bring a 12-game winning streak into the postseason and are currently ranked No. 23 in the latest NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball poll.
Balanced Attack Fuels Championship Run
Coastal - North has been steady on both ends of the floor throughout the 2025-26 season. The Coyotes are averaging 74.1 points per game while shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 70.1 percent from the free throw line.
Defensively, Coastal has limited opponents to just 66.7 points per contest and 39.1 percent shooting, using consistent defensive pressure and rebounding to control the tempo of games. The Coyotes have also dominated the glass, averaging 43.9 rebounds per game compared to 28.8 by their opponents.
In conference play, Coastal elevated its performance even further, averaging 75.9 points per game while allowing just 62.6 points per contest en route to a 15-1 league mark.
Team Leaders
The Coyotes' success has been fueled by a balanced scoring attack and strong interior presence throughout the year. Chimeziri Okeoma leads the team in scoring at 13.6 points per game, shooting 42.8 percent from the field and 80.8 percent from the free throw line. Additionally, he paces the Coyotes with 50 made threes on the season.
Meanwhile, Bryce Wilkins has flirted with a double-double average for the majority of the year, averaging 12.9 points and a team-best 9.3 rebounds per game, all while shooting an efficient 59.0 percent from the floor. Wilkins has pulled down 259 total rebounds this season.
Point guard Eli Pippins adds 11.1 points per game and directs the offense with 219 total assists, averaging 7.3 assists per contest. Pippins also leads the team with 63 steals, anchoring Coastal's defensive pressure. Other consistent contributors include Justin Burns (7.6 rebounds per game) and Bryson Holmes (6.0 rebounds per game) who provide additional production on the boards, helping the Coyotes maintain a consistent rebounding edge. Both players average over seven points per contest.
Overall, production and valuable minutes can be found up and down the entire 2025-26 'Yotes roster throughout the season in Monroeville, as the team continues to prove to be one of the deepest rosters in the NJCAA.
Semifinal Focus
After Reid State won its quarterfinal game on Thursday, Coastal Alabama - North will meet the Lions for the third time this season. The Coyotes' defensive intensity, rebounding advantage and balanced scoring approach will once again be key factors.
The Coyotes defeated Reid State twice during the regular season and will now meet their conference rival on Friday with a championship berth on the line.
With momentum, national recognition and a regular season title already secured, Coastal - North now turns its attention to postseason success, aiming to extend its winning streak and eventually claim the ACCC Tournament Championship in Talladega.
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