THOMASVILLE, Ga. – Thomas University defeated the College of Coastal Georgia, 77-65, Thursday night at TU Gymnasium to advance to the semifinals of the Sun Conference Men's Basketball Tournament. 

The third-seeded Night Hawks will face second-seeded No. 23 Keiser University on Monday, Feb. 26 at 5 p.m. at the Fernandez Family Center in Miami Gardens, Fla., on the campus of St. Thomas University. The winner will face either top-ranked No.7 St. Thomas or fifth-seeded RV Southeastern University in the championship game on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.

Thursday night Coastal Georgia led by three points early in the game, but a 3-pointer by Katrell Myers with 16 minutes left in the first half tied the game. Then a fastbreak layup by Javoris Cooks at 15:22 gave Thomas the two-point edge and a lead they would never relinquish. Thomas led 42-28 at the break. 

TU shot 53.6 percent (15-28) from the field and made 5-of-10 from distance in the first half, and finished the game 50.0 percent (26-52) overall and 38.9 percent (7-18) from beyond the arc. 

Myers recorded a game-high 24 points, hitting 7-of-10 from the field, and knocking down 9-of-10 at the line. He also added five rebounds, an assist and a steal in his 23 minutes off the bench. 

Cooks finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and three assists while Johnnel Ginnie added 12 points and seven rebound for the Night Hawks. 

Six consecutive victories boosted Thomas University from a 4-8 conference record to the third seed in the tournament, giving the Night Hawks a home game in the quarterfinals. Thomas' three-seed is the best in program history, and Thursday night's home game was the school's first men's basketball tournament game played on campus.