COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (1-1, 0-0 CAA) vs. CHARLOTTE (1-1, 0-0 C-USA)
Game #3
November 18, 2017 • 7:00 p.m. (ET)
Halton Arena (9,105)
at Charlotte, N.C.
 
Television: None
Radio: College of Charleston Radio Network (ESPN Radio 910 AM)
Series History: Charlotte Leads 12-9
Last Meeting: Charlotte def. CofC, 90-85 (OT), on Dec. 16, 2014 in Charlotte, N.C.
Internet: Free Live Statistics at http://www.sidearmstats.com/charlotte/mbball/
Live Video: Live Video at http://conferenceusa.com/showcase/embed.aspx?Live=3676
Tickets: www.Charlotte49ers.com
Twitter: @CofCBasketball
 
THE COACHES
College of Charleston: Earl Grant
Fourth Year at CofC: 52-49
Fourth Year Overall: 52-49
Charlotte: Mark Price
Third Year at Charlotte: 28-37
Third Year Overall: 28-37
 
TELEVISION (None)
 
RADIO (College of Charleston Radio Network)
Play-By-Play: Everett German
Color Analyst: Danny Johnson
 
GAME PREVIEW
Since the 2013-14 season, the College of Charleston men's basketball team (1-1) has rekindled a regional rivalry series with Charlotte (1-1) once played between John Kresse's and Jeff Mullins' squads in the early 1990s. This time around, fourth-year head coach Earl Grant and third-year head coach Mark Price will be on both ends of the sidelines as the Cougars and 49ers go head-to-head on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. (ET) at Halton Arena in Charlotte, N.C. Both teams are coming off tough road losses at No. 6-ranked Wichita State (81-63) and Oklahoma State (83-65) respectively. CofC continues on a nearly two-week road stretch away from the friendly confines of TD Arena as it will play three games in the Great Alaska Shootout next week in Anchorage, Alaska. 2017 Preseason Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year Joe Chealey along with fellow seniors Cameron Johnson and Evan Bailey were the only Cougars to suit up in the team's last visit to Charlotte – a 90-85 overtime thriller on Dec. 16, 2014 – Grant's first season at The College. Chealey recorded a game-high 30 points (his previous career high) on 11-of-18 shooting from the field and 7-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc versus the 49ers. He (17.0 ppg) and preseason All-CAA Second Team selection Grant Riller (20.5 ppg) are currently on a two-game double-digit scoring streak.
 
A LOOK AT CHARLOTTE
Charlotte is guided by Mark Price, who is a former NBA All-Star that was an All-American point guard for former CofC Head Coach Bobby Cremins at Georgia Tech from 1982-86. His squad currently boast four players who are averaging double-figures in scoring including the team's top scorer and rebounder in junior guard Jon Davis (15.0 ppg and 6.0 rpg). The 49ers opened the season with a 116-76 victory over Methodist on Nov. 10. In the preseason Conference USA poll, they were picked to finish eighth out of the 14 teams in the league.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Charlotte leads 12-9 in the all-time series with College of Charleston. The Cougars have won five of the last nine contests in the series. CofC is 3-9 lifetime when playing on the road at Charlotte including a close 90-85 overtime loss to the 49ers on Dec. 16, 2014 at Halton Arena.
 
L, 90-85 (OT), on Dec. 16, 2014 in Charlotte, N.C.
W, 83-82, on Nov. 12, 2013 in Charleston, S.C.
W, 71-64 on Feb. 7, 1994 in North Charleston, S.C.
W, 68-54 on Nov. 23, 1991 in Charlotte, N.C.
L, 60-100 on Dec. 9, 1974 in Charlotte, N.C.
L, 63-79 on Feb. 8, 1971 in Charlotte, N.C.
L, 81-103 on Feb. 19, 1970 in Charlotte, N.C.
W, 70-68 on Jan. 7, 1970 in Charleston, S.C.
W, 89-81 on Feb. 15, 1969 in Charleston, S.C.
L, 62-75 on Feb. 1, 1969 in Charlotte, N.C.
L, 56-86 on Feb. 2, 1968 in Charlotte, N.C.
W, 67-64 on Jan. 26, 1968 in Charleston, S.C.
L, 61-74 on Feb. 3, 1967 in Charlotte, N.C.
L, 57-74 on Jan. 7, 1967 in Charleston, S.C.
W, 57-49 on Feb. 3, 1966 in Charlotte, N.C.
L, 64-72 on Dec. 11, 1965 in Charleston, S.C.
L, 74-99 on Feb. 13, 1965 in Charleston, S.C.
L, 74-82 on Dec. 15, 1964 in Charlotte, N.C.
W, 79-77 on Feb. 15, 1964 in Charleston, S.C.
L, 70-99 on Dec. 13, 1963 in Charlotte, N.C.
W, 70-68 on Dec. 14, 1962 in Charlotte, N.C.
 
COUGARS ON THE AIRWAVES
Fans can listen to all CofC men's basketball games throughout the 2017-18 season on ESPN Radio 910 AM in Charleston or via a live audio link at: www.charlestonsportsradio.com. Voice of the Cougars Everett German and color analyst Danny Johnson will call the action live from Halton Arena on the College of Charleston Radio Network.
 
PROJECTED COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON STARTERS
#13 Joe Chealey, G, 6-4, 190, Sr. (17.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.5 apg, 35.5 min)
#1 Grant Riller, G, 6-3, 195, So. (20.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.5 apg, 34.5 min)
#12 Cameron Johnson, G, 6-4, 200, Sr. (7.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 37.5 min)
#24 Jaylen McManus, F, 6-7, 230, So. (3.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.5 apg, 22.0 min)
#23 Nick Harris, F, 6-10, 260, Jr. (7.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.0 apg, 33.0 min)
 
PROJECTED CHARLOTTE STARTERS
#3 Jon Davis, G, 6-3, 200, Jr. (15.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 6.0 apg, 28.5 min)
#2 Andrien White, G, 6-3, 195, Jr. (14.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.5 apg, 24.0 min)
#5 Austin Ajukwa, G, 6-7, 210, RS-Sr. (11.0 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 0.0 apg, 19.5 min)
#21 Hudson Price, G, 6-7, 215, RS-Sr. (9.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 0.5 apg, 23.5 min)
#0 Jailan Haslem, C, 6-10, 260, Jr. (3.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.5 apg, 17.5 min)
 
QUEEN CITY HOMECOMING
Sophomore forward Jaylen McManus and junior walk-on Jermaine Blackmon return home to the Queen City for the first time of their careers at CofC. McManus starred at North Mecklenburg High School, while Blackmon played at Davidson Day School. One of the best players out of the Class of 2016 in the state of North Carolina, McManus is a former third team all-state, first team all-region and first team all-district selection. During his senior year, he led the Vikings to a 27-3 overall record and advanced to the final four of the state playoffs. He was also selected to participate in the North Carolina-South Carolina All-Star Game.
 
MOVING ON UP
Joe Chealey continues to move up the all-time career scoring list at the College of Charleston with back-to-back double-figure scoring games versus Siena and Wichita State. He currently has tabulated 1,250 career points to date and ranks 22nd. He is 18 points shy of moving into the Top 20 ahead of a pair of CofC greats in Sedric Webber (1,267, 20th) and Stacy Harris (1,257, 21st).
 
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON ALL-TIME LEADING SCORERS LIST
1. Andrew Goudelock (2007-11) – 2,571
2. Ken Gustafson (1971-75) – 2,135
3. Greg Mack (1981-85) – 1,901
4. Sam Meade (1970-74) – 1,812
5. Thaddeous Delaney (1994-97) – 1,564
6. Dontaye Draper (2003-07) – 1,541
7. Jeff Bolton (1999-02) – 1,527
8. Marion Busby (1992-95) – 1,504
9. Tony White, Jr. (2007-10) – 1,499
10. Steven Johnson (1984-88) – 1,456
11. Tom Holst (1961-65) – 1,433
12. Ron Theis (1972-76) – 1,414
13. Donavan Monroe (2007-11) – 1,382
14. Ahdonus Cofer (1988-92) – 1,330
15. Pat Harrington (1977-81) – 1,307
16. Antwaine Wiggins (2007-12) – 1,306
17. Tony Mitchell (2001-05) – 1,280
18. Jermaine Johnson (2006-09) – 1,276
19. Jody Lumpkin (1998-01) – 1,269
20. Sedric Webber (1996-99) – 1,267
21. Stacy Harris (1994-97) – 1,257
22. Joe Chealey (2013-Present) – 1,250
23. John Drafts (1974-78) – 1,241
24. Andrew Lawrence (2009-13) – 1,219
25. Thomas Mobley (2000-04) – 1,218
26. Mike Beckett (1988-92) – 1,204
27. Jermel President (1996-99) – 1,175
28. Wes Champion (1985-88) – 1,171
29. Willis Hall (2009-14) – 1,152
30. Muzon Cheeks (1974-78) – 1,111
31. Troy Wheless (2000-03) – 1,108
32. Anthony Stitt (2011-15) – 1,091
33. Adjehi Baru (2011-15) – 1,090
34. Rick Carpenter (1969-71) – 1,029
 
WICHITA STATE RECAP
No. 6 Wichita State 81, College of Charleston 63
• For the second-straight game, the College of Charleston started Grant Riller, Joe Chealey, Cameron Johnson, Jaylen McManus and Nick Harris. Jarrell Brantley did not play due to a knee injury.
• In just both program's second-ever meeting, Wichita State improves to 2-0 in the all-time series with College of Charleston. Both previously met in the 2011 NIT Quarterfinals also held at Charles Koch Arena.
• The Cougars are now 6-23 all-time versus Top 25 opponents and 2-10 versus the Top 10.
• CofC Head Coach Earl Grant played against his mentor, Wichita State Head Coach Gregg Marshall, for the first time on the opposite end of the sidelines. Grant served as an assistant to Marshall at Winthrop from 2004-07 and Wichita State from 2007-10.
• In back-to-back games, Grant Riller has registered game-high 20-point performances. He knocked down 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting at Wichita State including 18 in the second half of play. Riller now has nine 20-point games in his career.
• Joe Chealey reached double figures for the second-straight contest with 17 points at Wichita State.
• Nick Harris led the team in rebounding for the second-consecutive game with six of the team's 27 boards against the Shockers.
• CofC outscored Wichita State, 41-34, in the second half, and defensively held the Shockers to 80 points. They had come into the contest with back-to-back 100-point games against UMKC and Newman (exhibition).
 
COUGAR SOUND BITES
"It doesn't change who we are. Certainly, he (Jarrell Brantley) is a very important offensive and defensive guy for us. He means a lot to our team and is a very good player. But, in terms of who we are, it doesn't change the efforts that we can put out on the court each and everyday. It means everyone has to give a bit more of an extra effort and some guys will have to play more minutes. We played two games (Siena and Wichita State) that were hard and challenging. We have another tough one coming up at Charlotte. Four-to-six weeks is good news when you are dealing with a knee (injury). It's usually a lot longer than that, and at this point, Jarrell's spirit is up and we know the results now. We have a game on Saturday and we have three more in Alaska. For now, we have to find a way and keep focused. Charlotte will be a tough test for us on Saturday." – CofC Head Coach Earl Grant on how the team will rebound with the loss of Jarrell Brantley in the lineup for the next four-to-six weeks
 
"We learned we have to play hard for 40 minutes. In the first half, we came out timid and it hurt us in the long run. But, overall it was a good experience and I feel like we learned a lot. Outside of Joe (Chealey), not a lot of us have played in an environment like that. We didn't come out as aggressive as we wanted to. In the second half, we picked it up and played our brand of basketball. Looking forward, as long as we stick to our brand of basketball, we will be okay." – CofC Sophomore Guard Grant Riller on what the team learned from the Wichita State road game in a tough environment
 
"It has been tough without him, obviously, because he is such a big part of our offense. We are trying to integrate Jaylen (McManus) into the lineup and get him more comfortable at the four-position." – Riller on the loss of Jarrell Brantley in the lineup