Cougars Look To Bounce Back at Drexel Saturday

Saturday, January 28

Philadelphia, Pa.

2:00 PM

College of Charleston

Drexel

Photo by: Al Samuels

1/27/2017 5:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Drexel Game Notes

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (16-6, 7-2 CAA) vs. DREXEL (8-13, 2-6 CAA)
Game #23
January 28, 2017 • 2:00 p.m. (ET)
Daskalakis Athletic Center (2,509)
at Philadelphia, Pa.

Television: American Sports Network
Radio: College of Charleston Radio Network (ESPN Radio 910 AM)
Series History: CofC Leads 5-4
Last Meeting: CofC def. Drexel, 60-38, on Feb. 6, 2016 in Charleston, S.C.
Internet: Free Live Statistics at www.DrexelStats.com
Live Video: Free Live Video via CAA.tv at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/caa/
Twitter: @CofCBasketball

THE COACHES
College of Charleston: Earl Grant
Third Year at CofC: 42-44
Third Year Overall: 42-44
Drexel: Zach Spiker
First Year at Drexel: 8-13
Eighth Year Overall: 110-125

TELEVISION (American Sports Network)
Play-By-Play: Doug Bell
Color Analyst: Mike Jarvis

RADIO (College of Charleston Radio Network)
Play-By-Play: Everett German

GAME PREVIEW
The College of Charleston men's basketball team (16-6, 7-2 CAA) will close out the second-leg of its three-game CAA road swing at Drexel (8-13, 2-6) on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 2 p.m. (ET) in Philadelphia, Pa. The game will be televised live nationally on the American Sports Network. Check your local listings. The Cougars are looking to rebound from an 83-77 overtime loss at Towson on Jan. 26, while the Dragons ended a two-game skid in league play with an 81-80 overtime victory over Hofstra. In both teams' last outing, they shot better than 50 percent from the field – CofC a season-best 53.8% (28-of-52) and Drexel 50.8% (30-of-59). Known for their defense, the Cougars have held 18 opponents this season under 70 points per game. They currently rank No. 8 in the nation in scoring defense (61.0 ppg) and No. 3 in three-point field-goal percentage defense (27.4%). Joe Chealey and Grant Riller, both who have earned CAA and Rookie of the Week honors this season, are coming off 25-point performances against the Tigers. Chealey ranks sixth in the league in scoring (15.9 ppg) and has been explosive this year after missing all of the 2015-16 campaign with a preseason Achilles tendon injury.

A LOOK AT THE DRAGONS
Drexel is led by senior big man Rodney Williams, who is averaging a team-leading 16.2 points (4th in the CAA) along with 6.9 boards per game. He is one point away from reaching 1,000 career points and tallied a near double-double with 22 pints and eight rebounds in the OT win over Hofstra. As a team, Drexel ranks fourth in the league in scoring offense averaging 75.6 points per game and third in rebounding (38.0 rpg).

COUGARS ON THE AIRWAVES
Fans can listen to all CofC men's basketball games throughout the 2016-17 season on ESPN Radio 910 AM in Charleston or via a live audio link at: www.charlestonsportsradio.com. Voice of the Cougars Everett German will call the action live from the Daskalakis Athletic Center on the College of Charleston Radio Network.

PROJECTED COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON STARTERS
#13 Joe Chealey, G, 6-4, 195, RS-Jr. (15.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.2 apg, 33.6 min)
#1 Grant Riller, G, 6-3, 185, RS-Fr. (11.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.0 apg, 24.5 min)
#12 Cameron Johnson, G, 6-4, 200, Jr. (6.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.8 apg, 31.5 min)
#5 Jarrell Brantley, F, 6-7, 250, So. (13.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.1 apg, 31.9 min)
#23 Nick Harris, F, 6-10, 250, So. (5.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 0.2 apg, 23.3 min)

PROJECTED DREXEL STARTERS
#1 Kurk Lee, G, 5-10, 150, Fr. (13.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 4.9 apg, 31.5 min)
#15 Sammy Mojica, G, 6-3, 195, Jr. (11.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.5 apg, 31.2 min)
#12 Kari Jonsson, G, 6-3, 170, Fr. (8.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.1 apg, 27.2 min)
#24 Rodney Williams, F, 6-7, 225, Sr. (16.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.4 apg, 29.8 min)
#5 Austin Williams, F, 6-8, 240, Jr. (7.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 0.4 apg, 21.5 min)

THE ORLANDO CONNECTION
For the third time this season, Orlando area natives Joe Chealey and Grant Riller scored in double figures and combined for more than 45+ points in a single game for the Cougars. Chealey and Riller combined for a season-high 50 points in the overtime loss at Towson on Jan. 26, which eclipsed a previous best of 48 of the team's 77 points against Hofstra on Jan. 5 at TD Arena.

Joe Chealey (24 points) and Grant Riller (21 points) vs. The Citadel on Nov. 11, 2016 – 45 combined points
Joe Chealey (31 points) and Grant Riller (17 points) vs. Hofstra on Jan. 5, 2017 – 48 combined points
Joe Chealey (25 points) and Grant Riller (25 points) at Towson on Jan. 26, 2017 – 50 combined points

COACHING TIES
College of Charleston Assistant Coach Quinton Ferrell previously served as an assistant coach for one season at Army under current Drexel Head Coach Zach Spiker. While he was at West Point, the Black Knights recorded a program-best 10 conference wins in the Patriot League in 2013-14 and also turned in back-to-back winning seasons in league play for the first time in school history.

INSIDE THE SERIES
College of Charleston leads 5-4 in the all-time series with Drexel. Last year, both teams split the regular-season series protecting each of their home courts. Six of the last nine meetings between the two schools have been decided by 10 points or less. CofC is 0-3 lifetime when playing the Dragons on the road in the city of Brotherly Love.

LAST NINE GAMES IN THE SERIES
W, 60-38 (+22) on Feb. 6, 2016 in Charleston, S.C.
L, 54-61 (-7) on Jan. 9, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pa.
W, 56-48 (+8) on March 6, 2015 in Baltimore, Md.^
L, 45-59 (-14) on Feb. 7, 2015 in Charleston, S.C.
L, 51-53 (-2) on Jan. 24, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pa.
L, 45-56 (-11) on Feb. 26, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pa.
W, 47-46 (+1) on Feb. 13, 2014 in Charleston, S.C.
W, 75-65 (+10) on Dec. 28, 1996 in North Charleston, S.C.
W, 56-51 (+5) on Dec. 29, 1994 in Chattanooga, Tenn.
^ CAA Tournament

TOWSON RECAP
Towson 83, College of Charleston 77 (OT)
• It marked the second overtime game in the all-time series between Towson and College of Charleston. The Tigers are now 2-0 in those OT games next to a 68-61 overtime victory on Feb. 8, 2014 in Towson, Md. They ended a three-game skid in the series and avoided the regular-season series sweep.
• The Cougars shot a season-best 53.8 percent from the field (28-of-52) at Towson including 66.7 percent in the second half (14-of-21).
• CofC committed a league season-high 14 turnovers in the ballgame which resulted in 19 of Towson's 83 points – the most scored by a Cougar opponent this season.
• Orlando area natives Joe Chealey and Grant Riller combined for 50 of the team's 77 points including 25 each. It marked Chealey's seventh career 20-point outing, while it was Riller's fourth. Chealey is on a four-game double-digit scoring streak and Riller a career-best six games in nine CAA games played.
• Jarrell Brantley (11 points) scored in double figures for the 19th time this season and made a season-high tying two blocked shots at Towson.
• It marked the first overtime game of the season for the Cougars (0-1) and first since a 59-55 overtime loss to UNCW on Feb. 20, 2016 at TD Arena.

COUGAR SOUND BITES
"They (Drexel) have a new coach (Zach Spiker) and are learning a new system. They haven't won a lot, but they've been through a ton of close games in the CAA. They have played everyone pretty tight and close. They have good players and good personnel. We know they are a very capable team. It's a quick turnaround for us and we will have to bounce back very quickly and be ready for an early game on Saturday." – College of Charleston Head Coach Earl Grant on the quick one-day prep for the Drexel game

"Our offense was really good. We shot 53 percent and 46 percent from three. But, we only give up 59 points a game and ranked No. 5 in defense. Bottom line, 83 points is too much. Offensively, we did plenty. We just had too many breakdowns on defense in terms of giving up second-chance points. We knew that was a huge key –
keeping them off the glass and we didn't do that on Thursday night." – Coach Grant on the Towson loss and what the team can improve on heading into the next one

"Every night is a battle in the CAA. They (Drexel) are the next test for us. They are a good team regardless of what their record says. We know it will be a tough game for us at their place. We are excited for the challenge. We need to get back to our standards of playing Charleston Basketball – still being aggressive, getting back to playing good defense, building our wall and rebounding like we are supposed to." – Redshirt Junior Guard Joe Chealey on what the team can improve on heading into the Drexel game on Saturday