College of Charleston
9-3, 1-0
James Madison
10-4, 0-1
Cougars Claim First-Ever Road Win at JMU In CAA Opener
12/31/2015 10:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HARRISONBURG, Va. – In its Colonial Athletic Association opener, College of Charleston claimed its first-ever road win at James Madison, 65-62, on New Year's Eve at the JMU Convocation Center.
The Cougars (9-3, 1-0 CAA) ended a three-game skid in the all-time series with the Dukes (10-4, 0-1 CAA), who had their school-record eight-game win streak snapped.
Freshman Jarrell Brantley (Columbia, S.C.) provided CofC with an offensive spark throughout the game, and at one point, was 13-for-13 from the field. He recorded a career-and game-high 29 points as the Cougars, picked to finish eighth in the preseason CAA coaches poll, knocked off preseason No. 2 JMU.
Sophomore Cameron Johnson (Athens, Ga.) also came in the clutch knocking down two of his career-best five three-pointers in the final four-minute stretch as CofC and JMU continued to exchange leads. Johnson finished with 19 points.
With 28 seconds remaining in regulation and the game tied at 61-all, freshman reserve Marquise Pointer (Jonesboro, Ark.) drove into the lane with the game-winning finger-roll layup.
JMU's top player Ron Curry was fouled and went 1-for-2 from the free throw line as junior Canyon Barry (Colorado Springs, Colo.) grabbed the defensive rebound and was fouled. He calmly sank two underhanded free throws – his only points – to seal the road victory for the Cougars.
CofC will next ring in the New Year at William & Mary (8-4, 0-1 CAA) on Saturday, Jan. 2 at 4 p.m. (ET) in Williamsburg, Va.
For more information on College of Charleston Basketball, follow the Cougars on Twitter at @CofCBasketball.
POSTGAME NOTES
· For the sixth time this season, CofC used the starting lineup of junior Payton Hulsey, junior Canyon Barry, sophomore Cameron Johnson, freshman Jarrell Brantley and redshirt freshman Nick Harris (5-1).
· With the victory, College of Charleston evens the all-time series with James Madison to 3-3. It marked the Cougars first-ever road win in Harrisonburg in three all-time tries. They also snapped a three-game losing skid in the series. Three of the last four meetings with the Dukes have now been decided in single digits (+3).
· CofC is now 2-1 all-time in CAA openers as a third-year member of the conference joining in July of 2013.
· Jarrell Brantley recorded a career-high 29 points on a career-best 13-of-14 shooting from the floor against James Madison. He also turned in seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in a career-high 33 minutes of action versus the Dukes. It was the fourth-highest scoring game this season by any CofC player.
· Cameron Johnson knocked down 19 points at James Madison, which was one point shy of his career. He also made a career-best five three-pointers and has now scored in double figures in four of the last five games.
· For the second consecutive game, Payton Hulsey led the Cougars in the rebounding column with a game-high nine at James Madison.
· Defensively, CofC held James Madison to its fewest points of the season (62) and 37.5 percent shooting from beyond the arc (9-of-24).
POSTGAME QUOTES
College of Charleston Head Coach Earl Grant
On the road win …
“We knew it would be a challenge to come in here and try to win a game against a very good James Madison team with experience and talent. I was proud that our guys were able to come out and compete at a high level. Certainly, we had to do that in order to be successful.”
On Jarrell Brantley's 29-point outburst …
“He's always energetic and has started every game for us. He didn't have that kind of scoring output before, but he's always had that rebounding and energy. He put together a great game today. They (James Madison) have so many different weapons and players. We didn't focus on attacking anyone in particular. We just wanted to have good ball movement, screen well, share the ball and execute. It just happened to be his day.”
On the game-winning play by Marquise Pointer …
“Marquise (Pointer) is used to winning. He won in high school and in AAU basketball. He never lost winning four-straight state championships. Before I could think about calling a timeout or calling a play, he was already in the paint and the ball was going through the net.”
College of Charleston Freshman Forward Jarrell Brantley
On his 29-point outburst against James Madison …
“I was feeling it. I came in, like I do for every game, trying to stay focused and making sure I get stops. I guess I attacked a little bit more than usual.”
On Marquise Pointer's game-winner …
“If you've watched us this season, that's what Marquise (Pointer) does. He always figures out something at the end of a game for us. He is really poised in what he does, even though we are a really young team.”
On beating a veteran team on the road and the difference down the stretch …
“We stuck together and got closer. Every time we had a chance, we got into the huddle and made sure we said stuff to each other that meant something towards winning the game. We stayed locked in the whole time. (Ron) Curry is tough. We knew we had to deny the ball for all of their shooters (in the final seconds).”
