MACOMB, Ill. (Interstat) — The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers used a dominant first-half performance and a balanced scoring attack to secure a decisive 84-64 victory over the Western Illinois Leathernecks in a non-conference men’s basketball game Friday night at Western Hall.

A sparse crowd of 655 watched as the Chanticleers built a comfortable lead early and never looked back, improving their record to 3-2 on the young season. The Leathernecks, struggling to find their footing, fell to 1-5.

Coastal Carolina established control from the opening tip, racing out to an eight-point lead in the first five minutes. The Chanticleers’ offense was efficient and their defense disruptive, forcing Western Illinois into difficult shots and turnovers. The visitors stretched their lead to as many as 14 points in the opening period before settling for a 44-36 advantage at halftime.

The second half saw the Chanticleers quickly extinguish any hopes of a Leatherneck comeback. A 13-4 run out of the break, fueled by sharp outside shooting and transition baskets, pushed the Coastal Carolina lead to 17 points and effectively put the game out of reach. Western Illinois could not mount a significant challenge the rest of the way, as the Chanticleers cruised to the 20-point victory.

RaSheed Jones led all scorers for Coastal Carolina, finishing with 20 points in 30 minutes of action. He was a consistent threat from beyond the arc and a key facilitator in the Chanticleers’ offensive sets. Joshua Beadle provided a major spark off the bench, contributing 18 points and four assists in just 23 minutes. His energy on both ends of the floor helped Coastal Carolina maintain its momentum through lineup rotations.

The Chanticleers also received significant contributions from their backcourt. AJ Dancler chipped in 10 points and four assists, while DaJohn Craig added 11 points, showcasing the team’s depth and multiple scoring options.

For Western Illinois, Karyiek Dixon shouldered much of the offensive load, finishing with a team-high 16 points. Francis Okwuosah matched Dixon’s output with 16 points of his own, but the Leathernecks lacked the consistent secondary scoring needed to keep pace with the high-powered Chanticleers. Tyran Cook, who started the game strong, was limited to eight points.

The game was a departure from pregame projections, as Coastal Carolina covered the spread as a two-point favorite. The combined score of 148 points also surpassed the over/under line of 136.5, defying the expectations of a lower-scoring contest.

Coastal Carolina will look to build on this win as they continue a road swing, facing Illinois State on Saturday. Western Illinois, seeking to halt its early-season slide, will remain at home to host North Dakota on Sunday.