JACK ROBERTSON ARENA | BAY MINETTE, Ala. - In front of a large and energetic crowd at Jack Robertson Arena, No. 23 Coastal Alabama - North Men's Basketball fought toe-to-toe with top-ranked Palm Beach State College (Fla.) but ultimately fell just short in a 64-59 decision in the 2025-26 NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball Gulf South District Championship on Saturday afternoon.

Despite the loss, Coastal Alabama - North remains in contention for an at-large berth to the NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship Tournament, scheduled for Mar. 16-21 in Danville, Ill.

Coyotes, Panthers Put on Classic

The Coyotes fed off the energy of the home crowd early and controlled much of the first half. Coastal Alabama's defense limited the Panthers' offensive rhythm while timely shooting helped the Coyotes build momentum. A three-pointer from Eli Pippins and aggressive scoring from Chimeziri Okeoma helped Coastal maintain control, and the Coyotes carried a 30-28 lead into halftime.

Palm Beach State began the second half with a surge, but Coastal Alabama refused to back down. Justin Burns provided a major spark after the break, scoring all 11 of his points in the second half to keep the Coyotes within striking distance. However, late free throws and defensive stops by the Panthers helped the No. 1 team in the nation close out the game despite the 'Yotes continuing to battle until the final buzzer.

Eli Pippins led the Coyotes offensively with 17 points, including three three-pointers, while Okeoma added 15 points and went an efficient 8-for-9 from the free-throw line. Burns finished third on the team with his 11 points, all coming after halftime. Coastal - North also received four points each from David Culbreath-Martin, Rashad Mitchell, and Bryson Holmes.

All-Conference standout Bryce Wilkins was limited by foul trouble throughout the contest and finished with two points, a factor that eventually impacted the Coyotes' interior presence.

Even with the defeat, Coastal Alabama - North delivered a resilient performance against the nation's top-ranked team in front of a packed and supportive home crowd.

Waiting Game

The Coyotes, led by head coach Chuck Taylor, will now await the announcement of the NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship field, where they still have a chance to secure an at-large bid to compete in Danville, Illinois from Mar. 16-21.

If selected, Coastal Alabama - North would continue a memorable postseason run following its ACCC Division II Tournament Championship earlier this month.
 

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.