FARMVILLE, Va. – Anthony Raffa scored 26 points and Coastal Carolina pulled away in the final minute to defeat Longwood 80-72 Saturday in the Big South Conference opener for both teams.
Warren Gillis added a career-high 21 points and Kierre Greenwood had 19 while El Hadji Ndieguene grabbed 12 rebounds for the Chanticleers (6-6), who have won four of their last five.
Coastal Carolina opened up leads of 10 points in the first half and nine in the second, but the Lancers (3-12), who joined the Big South this season, pulled ahead at 56-54.
After four ties, the Chanticleers regained the lead for good.
With 1:07 left, Longwood got to 73-71, but two free throws by Greenwood, four straight points by Raffa and a free throw by Ndieguene ended the threat as the Lancers managed just one point.
Nik Brown scored 19 points and Michael Kessens had 12 with 10 rebounds for Longwood.
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