Preview: Coastal Alabama Sun Chiefs at Shelton State Buccaneers

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (Interstat) — The Shelton State Buccaneers look to rebound from a rare loss when they host the struggling Coastal Alabama Sun Chiefs in a men’s junior college basketball game Thursday.

The Buccaneers (11-5) enter the contest after a 96-85 road loss at Gadsden State on Monday, which snapped a three-game winning streak. Shelton State has been strong at home this season and will be heavily favored against a Sun Chiefs squad that has lost five straight and 14 of its last 15 games.

Coastal Alabama (3-14) is coming off a 109-96 home loss to Southern Union State on Monday. Defense has been a persistent issue for the Sun Chiefs, who have allowed an average of 98.2 points during their current five-game skid.

A key matchup will feature two players coming off very different recent experiences. Coastal Alabama will rely on guard Makhi Jones, who has been a bright spot. He scored 20 points in 31 minutes in a loss to Wallace State on Jan. 29 and poured in 23 points, six rebounds and four assists in a win over Calhoun on Jan. 22.

For Shelton State, guard Anderson Wilkin will seek more consistent minutes. After scoring 14 points in just one minute of action in a win at Bishop State on Jan. 24, Wilkin played 16 minutes and contributed six points and two assists in a win over Southern Union State on Jan. 29. However, he logged only one minute in the team’s most recent loss.

The Buccaneers won the first meeting between these teams earlier this season. They will look to control the tempo and exploit Coastal Alabama’s defensive vulnerabilities. The Sun Chiefs will need a high-efficiency night from Jones and others to snap their prolonged slump on the road.

The teams are scheduled to meet again in the regular-season finale at Coastal Alabama on March 5.