Warhawks Drop Conference Battle to Coastal South, 78-69
Decatur, AL — A slow start and foul trouble proved costly for Calhoun men's basketball Thursday night, as the Warhawks fell 78–69 at home to Coastal Alabama South in conference play.
Calhoun stumbled out of the gate, digging an early hole while struggling to find rhythm from beyond the arc. Coastal's zone defense disrupted ball movement and took the Warhawks out of their preferred up-tempo flow, forcing tough looks and rushed possessions in the opening minutes.
Despite the shaky start, Calhoun battled back. The Warhawks settled in defensively and rallied to take a brief lead with just under three minutes remaining in the first half. That momentum was short-lived, however, as Coastal capitalized on two open three-point looks late in the half to reclaim control and carry an eight-point advantage into the locker room.
The second half never fully swung back in Calhoun's favor. Compounding the offensive struggles, veteran guards Jordan Johnson and Tahir Bond were limited by foul trouble throughout the night. With six minutes remaining, both had fouled out, leaving the Warhawks without their primary offensive engines down the stretch. Coastal took advantage, managing the clock and knocking down timely shots to secure the road win.
Despite the loss, Calhoun received strong individual efforts. Johnathan Johnson delivered a standout performance with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and five blocks, anchoring the interior on both ends. Carson Muse added 14 points and five assists, while Luke Mosley knocked down all four of his three-point attempts to finish with 12 points.
After the game, head coach Derrick Powell was blunt in his assessment. "This wasn't Calhoun basketball," Powell said. "It was a shaky game all around for us, and we've got to clean this up. We didn't play with the pace or discipline we expect, and foul trouble put us in a tough spot. That's on us, and we'll get back to work to fix it."
Calhoun (11-8, 1-2) will now travel to Gadsden State (12-7, 2-1) on Monday, January 26 for a 7:30 p.m. tip.