COAL GROVE — This equation didn’t have a solution, at least not for the Coal Grove Hornets.

Nathan Patten scored 29 points to lead the Green Bobcats to a 65-52 win over the Hornets Friday in a non-league game.

Hornets coach Mike Waller said he tried various defenses, but nothing seemed to even slow down Patten.

“Patten was exceptional. We really didn’t have an answer for him,” Waller said.

“But our guys will keep battling. We play at East on Tuesday and we’ll be ready to go.”

Patten also had 8 steals as Green’s defense proved to be a key factor in the win along with some clutch foul shooting.

“Patten played real well. He didn’t shoot a lot from the field but he shot well. He did a better job taking the ball to the basket,” Green coach David Hopper said.

“We weathered a storm for once and hit our free throws down the stretch. Free throws made the difference for us. It was a lot better than we’ve done in our other games.”

The Bobcats converted 11of 16 free throws in the fourth quarter as they rallied from a 3-point deficit.

Green was up 15-9 at the end of the first quarter as Patten got 5 points.

Coal Grove (0-8) scored only 8 points in the second quarter while Ian Kelley and Patten combined for 10 points to put Green up 31-17 at the half.

Adam Bare scored 10 points in the third quarter and Zach Murphy added 7 more as Coal Grove came back to take a 42-39 lead.

Patten scored 10 points to go with the free throws by Green as they rallied for the win.

Bare had a big game for the Hornets with 22 points and 20 rebounds.

Murphy added 10 points.

Kelley backed Patten with 11 points and 6 rebounds. Randy Ratcliff grabbed 10 rebounds.

Green15161123=65

Coal Grove982213=52

GREEN (2-4): Chris Willard 0 0 2-3 2, Corey Dyer 0 0 4-6 4, Nathan Patten 8 2 7-11 29, Randy Ratcliff 1 0 2-2 4, Ian Kelley 4 1 0-2 11, Wes Bailey 0 0 0-0 0, Brock Russell 4 0 1-1 9, Matt Clarke 1 0 2-2 4, Austin Pollard 1 0 0-1 2. Totals: 22-48 (3) 18-30

65. Rebounds: 32 (Ratcliff 10, Kelley 6). Assists: 9 (Willard 3, Clarke 2, Dyer 2). Steals: 22 (Patten 8, Clarke 4, Ratcliff 3). Blocked shots: 3 (Clarke, Pollard, Russell). Turnovers: 18.

COAL GROVE (0-8):

Zack Murphy 2 1 3-4 10, Chris Dirling 1 0 0-0 2, Austin Willis 0 1 0-0 3, Tyler Branch 2 0 5-6 9, Adam Bare 9 4-7 22. Totals: 19-58

11-16

52. 3-point goals: 2-14. Fouls: 25. Fouled out: Murphy, Willis. Rebounds: 32 (Bare 20, Sloan 5). Assists: 6 (Bare 2, Murphy 2). Steals: 8 (Willis 3). Turnovers: 24. Blocked shots: 6 (Bare 5).