CHARLESTON, S.C. – Joe Chealey and Grant Riller combined for 45 points as College of Charleston opened the college basketball season with an 81-68 victory over crosstown rival The Citadel on Friday night at TD Arena.
 
Both players missed the entire 2015-16 season with preseason injuries and registered 24 and 21 points respectively in their return. Chealey shot 8-of-14 from the field, while Riller went 6-for-9.
 
Jarrell Brantley was also in double figures for the Cougars (1-0) with a near double-double of 11 points and nine rebounds.
 
CofC shot 42.4 percent from the field (25-for-59) against the Bulldogs' press. They also held them defensively to 29.9 percent shooting from the field and 21.2 percent from three-point range.
 
Last year, the Bulldogs (0-1) ranked No. 2 in the nation in scoring offense (86.0 ppg) as the Cougars held them to below that average.
 
Zane Najdawi led The Citadel with a game-high 28 points and 12 rebounds, while Preston Parks added 12 in the loss.
 
CofC will next travel to Coastal Carolina for a Monday, Nov. 14 road matchup at 7 p.m. (ET) in Conway, S.C.
 
POSTGAME NOTES

• The Cougars won the 94th meeting between both schools and now lead 55-39 in the all-time series including 10-straight wins dating back to the 2010-11 season.
• Joe Chealey turned in a team-high 24 points, which marked his third career 20+ point game.
• CofC last had two players score 20-or-more points in a single game at Charlotte on Dec. 16, 2014 with Joe Chealey (30 points) and Canyon Barry (21 points).
• Freshman Chevez Goodwin made his first career start and collegiate debut against The Citadel.
• Sophomore Nick Harris led all rebounders with a career-high 13 boards against The Citadel. His previous career-best was 12 versus Northeastern on Jan. 28, 2016.
• CofC made 11 steals in the ballgame with two each from senior Payton Hulsey, Jarrell Brantley and Grant Riller.
• The Cougars are now 14-2 all-time in home openers since their first NCAA Division I season in 1991-92. They are also 3-0 in season openers in the Earl Grant Era.

POSTGAME QUOTES
College of Charleston Head Coach Earl Grant
On the game …
"It was a Helter Skelter game like we anticipated, where you couldn't run a lot of offense and play break-down basketball. We did a great job of sticking to our game plan and playing great defense. We held them (The Citadel) to 29 percent from the field and 21 percent overall from three-point range. Those were great numbers. That was our plan going into it – defending and rebounding at a high level and taking the opportunities that presented themselves on offense with the number of traps and defense that they played. I was happy we were able to come out with the win."
 
On the team's play against The Citadel's press …
"I knew it was going to be ugly. It's a style you don't see every day. That's an ugly type of game when you press for 40 minutes and run around and trap it everywhere. We had a lot of opportunities to score at the basket, but we missed them because of the pace. We missed some free throws. But, we knew that if we defended and rebounded at a high level, the game would turn around for us and it did."
 
College of Charleston Redshirt Junior Guard Joe Chealey
On the rivalry game and slow start …
"It's always a good game when we play them (The Citadel). They always get up for this game – a crosstown rivalry as it should be. We probably had a few pre-game jitters with a new team. We settled in and followed what Coach Grant told us and the rest was history."
 
On playing in his first official game after being out for the 2015-16 season due to injury …
"It meant a lot. We've had scrimmages and the exhibition. There is nothing like having all of the students and the fans packing the house. It was a great atmosphere. There's nothing like the first game of the season."
 
College of Charleston Redshirt Freshman Guard Grant Riller
On coming into the game and giving the Cougars an offensive spark …
"I just wanted to come in and do my part – be aggressive on the offensive end. I think we were all a little nervous at the beginning of the game. But after we beat the jitters, we were pretty good from there on out."