Box Score MONROEVILLE, Ala. - One year ago, Coastal Alabama - North Men's Basketball walked off the floor with a regular-season championship secured, but also the the sting of falling just short in the 2024-25 ACCC Division II Men's Basketball Tournament Championship final.
Saturday afternoon, Feb. 28 felt different.
This time, there was no silence at the final buzzer. No unfinished business. No questions about what might have been. Instead, there was celebration.
The No. 23rd-ranked Coyotes completed their redemption story in emphatic fashion, defeating No. 16 Snead State (Ala.) 79-54 to claim the 2025-26 ACCC D-II Men's Basketball Championship Tournament title. After finishing as tournament runner-up a season ago despite winning the regular-season crown, Coastal - North left no doubt this time.
The victory not only secured the tournament championship, but also extended the Coyotes' winning streak to 14 games dating back to Jan. 5 and improved their record to 24-8 overall and 15-1 in conference play.
From the opening tip, Coastal - North played with the urgency of a team that remembered how last season felt. The 'Yotes defended with intensity, attacked the glass with purpose, and shared the basketball with confidence, even despite trailing 32-30 at halftime to the Parsons. However, in the second half, the momentum had firmly shifted in their favor.
Coastal - North's halftime meeting led to a dominant final 20 minutes, leading to the Coyotes outscoring their conference foe, 49-22.
Coastal finished the championship final shooting 46.2 percent (30-of-65) from the floor and dominated the boards, tallying 50 rebounds in the win, including 18 offensive rebounds that repeatedly extended possessions. The Coyotes tallied 20 assists on 30 made baskets, a reflection of the chemistry that has fueled their 14-game surge.
Bryce Wilkins delivered a championship-caliber performance, scoring a game-high 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting while knocking down 8-of-10 free throws. He added eight rebounds, anchoring critical stretches as Coastal built separation. He was named the ACCC D-II Men's Basketball Tournament MVP following the win.
Eli Pippins controlled the tempo throughout the contest, recording 10 points and a remarkable 14 assists for a double-double. Time and again, he found open teammates as Snead State's defense collapsed, keeping the Coyotes balanced and poised.
Justin Burns provided toughness inside with 11 rebounds and eight points, while Bryson Holmes was flawless from the field, finishing 4-of-4 for nine points and adding six rebounds and two blocks. Off the bench, Isaiah Fuller ignited a key stretch with 14 clutch points, including four three-pointers, helping Coastal turn momentum into a runaway. Monroeville, Ala. native Al'Terrius Beasley chipped in six points and eight rebounds in valuable reserve minutes.
For a group that had already secured a second consecutive regular-season title, this championship meant something deeper. It was validation. It was growth. It was closure.
Head Coach Chuck Taylor, who guided the Coyotes through last season's heartbreak and back to the top this year, was named ACCC Division II Coach of the Year for the second straight season. Under his leadership, Coastal Alabama has now paired back-to-back regular-season championships with the tournament title that eluded them a year ago. Taylor also surpassed 200 careers win during this season, a number that adds to his impressive coaching resume.
Wilkins and Pippins earned ACCC D-II First-Team All-Conference honors, while team scoring leader Chimeziri Okeoma was named to the ACCC D-II Second-Team All-Conference squad, highlighting the depth that carried the Coyotes through a 15-1 league campaign.
Now ranked No. 23 in the latest NJCAA Top 25 poll and playing their best basketball of the season, the Coyotes turn their focus to an even bigger opportunity.
Coastal Alabama - North will face No. 1 Palm Beach State College (Fla.) in the 2025-26 Gulf South District Championship on Friday, Mar. 7 at 3:30 p.m. CT inside Jack Robertson Arena in Bay Minette, Ala. A berth to the NJCAA National Tournament will be on the line.
Last year ended with unfinished business.
This year, Coastal Alabama - North made sure to finish what it started.
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