Tuesday, December 19
TD Arena
7:00 PM
College of Charleston
vs
South Carolina State
Cougars To Close Out Non-Conference Play With Two Palmetto State Foes This Week Including SC State
12/18/2017 8:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (7-3, 0-0 CAA) vs. SOUTH CAROLINA STATE (4-9, 0-0 MEAC)
Game #11
December 19, 2017 • 7:00 p.m. (ET)
TD Arena/John Kresse Court (5,100)
at Charleston, S.C.
Television: None
Radio: College of Charleston Radio Network (ESPN Radio 910 AM)
Series History: CofC Leads 12-8
Last Meeting: CofC def. South Carolina State, 74-54, on Nov. 13, 2015 in Charleston, S.C.
Internet: Free Live Statistics at www.CofCStats.com
Live Video: Free Live Video at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/charleston/
Tickets: www.CofCSports.com/tickets
Twitter: @CofCBasketball
THE COACHES
College of Charleston: Earl Grant
Fourth Year at CofC: 58-51
Fourth Year Overall: 58-51
South Carolina State: Murray Gavin
Fifth Year at SC State: 56-88
Fifth Year Overall: 56-88
TELEVISION (None)
RADIO (College of Charleston Radio Network)
Play-By-Play: Everett German
Color Analyst: Danny Johnson
GAME PREVIEW
The College of Charleston men's basketball team (7-3) will close out non-conference play this week with two Palmetto State foes. First up will be South Carolina State (4-9) on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. (ET) at TD Arena and then a road trip to Coastal Carolina on Friday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. (ET) in Conway, S.C. The Cougars have won five of their last six, while the Bulldogs have won three of their last four. CofC is looking to rebound from a 68-62 loss at Atlantic 10 Conference preseason favorite Rhode Island on Dec. 16, while SC State has won back-to-back games against Charleston Southern (91-88 OT) and Jacksonville (83-74). The Cougars currently rank No. 26 nationally in scoring defense, holding opponents to 62.7 points per game including 68 points or less in each of their last six-straight contests. With school out for winter break, the team is now focused on fine-tuning their mechanics on both ends of the floor in the next two-game stretch, before the Colonial Athletic Association opener versus Towson on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 4:00 p.m. (ET) at TD Arena. Senior guard Joe Chealey and sophomore guard Grant Riller lead the team in scoring averaging 18.4 points and 14.6 points per game respectively. Riller led the Cougars at URI with 21 points, while junior big man Nick Harris recorded a career-high 18 points inside in the high-caliber meeting between two preseason league favorites.
A GLIMPSE AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE
South Carolina State senior guard Donte Wright, who is the team's leading scorer averaging 15.2 points per game, currently leads the country in three-point field goal attempts. He has made 47-of-117 three-pointers for a team-best 40.2 percent accuracy from long range this season. Wright made five of the team's seven threes in the win over Jacksonville on Dec. 16 in Orangeburg. The Bulldogs are 0-8 on the road this year including non-conference stops at Wisconsin, Boston College, UCLA and NC State. They are averaging 72.0 points per game with seven-straight contests over the 71-point mark.
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 will call the action live from TD Arena along with color analyst Danny Johnson on the College of Charleston Radio Network.
PROJECTED COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON STARTERS
#13 Joe Chealey, G, 6-4, 190, Sr. (18.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.7 apg, 34.6 min)
#1 Grant Riller, G, 6-3, 195, So. (14.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.7 apg, 31.4 min)
#12 Cameron Johnson, G, 6-4, 200, Sr. (9.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.9 apg, 34.1 min)
#24 Jaylen McManus, F, 6-7, 230, So. (5.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 0.5 apg, 20.3 min)
#23 Nick Harris, F, 6-10, 260, Jr. (7.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 0.4 apg, 26.3 min)
PROJECTED SOUTH CAROLINA STATE STARTERS
#11 Janai Raynor Powell, G, 5-10, 165, Jr. (7.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.9 apg, 24.9 min)
#13 Donte Wright, G, 5-10, 190, Sr. (15.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.1 apg, 27.6 min)
#1 Justin Jones, G, 6-2, 185, So. (7.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.8 apg, 18.7 min)
#24 Ian Kinard, F, 6-8, 210, So. (6.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.6 apg, 19.9 min)
#21 David Bottenberg, F, 6-8, 220, So. (2.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.3 apg, 12.2 min)
SERIES HISTORY
College of Charleston leads 12-8 in the all-time series with South Carolina State. The Cougars are 8-1 all-time when playing the Bulldogs at home since both teams began the series dating back to the 1973-74 season. Since becoming a NCAA Division I member school in 1991-92, CofC is 5-1 all-time versus SC State and has won the last five-straight meetings between the two Palmetto State schools.
LAST SIX GAMES IN THE SERIES
W, 74-54 on Nov. 13, 2015 (+20) in Charleston, S.C.
W, 88-73 on Jan. 2, 2010 (+15) in Charleston, S.C.
W, 94-72 on Nov. 24, 2008 (+22) in Orangeburg, S.C.
W, 70-57 on Nov. 29, 1993 (+13) in Charleston, S.C.
W, 73-48 on Feb. 11, 1992 (+25) in Charleston, S.C.
L, 52-60 (OT) on Jan. 22, 1992 (-8) in Orangeburg, S.C.
HOME SWEET HOME
College of Charleston is one of 132 remaining NCAA Division I schools that remains unbeaten at home this season and one of 106 with four-or-more wins. The Cougars have defeated Siena (OT), Western Carolina, High Point and North Greenville for a 4-0 mark in the friendly confines of TD Arena. Historically, CofC's home-court winning percentage is .835 and The College is two wins away from its 100th all-time win at TD Arena (formerly known as Carolina First Arena which opened in 2008).
TD ARENA ALL-TIME HOME WINS
No. 1 – CofC def. SIU Edwardsville, 72-66, on Nov. 14, 2008
No. 50 – CofC def. Old Dominion, 76-65, on Dec. 18, 2012
No. 100 – ??
RHODE ISLAND RECAP
Rhode Island 68, College of Charleston 62
• For the fourth-consecutive game, College of Charleston went with the starting five of Joe Chealey, Grant Riller, Cameron Johnson, Jaylen McManus and Nick Harris.
• Rhode Island moves to 3-0 in the all-time series with College of Charleston. It was the second time the Cougars played a game on the road at URI next to a 1996 meeting between the two schools in the second round of the NIT.
• Grant Riller recorded his third 20-point game of the season with a game-high 21 points at Rhode Island. It marked his 10th 20-point performance of his career and tied his season high. He is currently on a four-game double-digit scoring streak.
• Nick Harris registered a career-high 18 points including 12 in the first half alone at Rhode Island. He went 8-for-11 from the field and added six rebounds.
• Joe Chealey reached double figures for the 10th time this season and extended his double-digit scoring streak to 27-consecutive games with 12 points versus Rhode Island. He led the team in rebounding (8) for the second time this season.
• The Cougars defensively held Rhode Island to 68 points, which was also their second-lowest scoring production of the season next to a 68-64 loss at Alabama on Dec. 6. They also held them to 26.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc. URI came into the game ranked No. 63 in the nation in the category (38.6%).
COUGAR SOUND BITES
"I learned that you have to play really well to win on the road. You have to be really sharp against a NCAA Tournament-caliber type team (like Rhode Island). I also learned that this team is capable of a lot of really good things, if we continue to improve throughout the season. We can be a special team. It wasn't our most complete game, but I thought we outplayed them for most of the game. We were pretty much in control of the game, except for a minute and 30 stretch. I thought we were executing, moving the ball and defending really well. I could tell we were better than we were a month ago." – College of Charleston Head Coach Earl Grant on what he and the team learned from the Rhode Island game
"You know it will be a dog fight. Anytime you play someone in the state, you know they will be gunning for you. Every game is a challenge for us, especially those in state, because there is a sense of pride with those kind of games. We expect it to be competitive like any game and we look forward to the challenge." – CofC Senior Guard Joe Chealey on playing South Carolina State on Tuesday night
"Obviously, we heard about it a couple of weeks ago when it happened. It's scary. My thoughts and prayers went out to him as soon as it happened. But, I'm glad he is doing better and he is recovering. As long as he is healthy, it kind of puts things into perspective for you. There's a lot more than basketball that can be taken away from you in a split second. I know Coach (Grant's) and the rest of our players' thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. If he comes to the game tomorrow night, we will be sure to go up to him and let him know we are praying for him." – Chealey on South Carolina State senior guard Ty Solomon, who collapsed on the sidelines at NC State on Dec. 2
"The goal is to try to keep progressing as the season goes on. You want to be playing your best basketball in March at the (CAA) tournament. Before the second season, we want to fine tune everything in all aspects of the game – defense, offense, transition and rebounding." – Chealey on the team using the next two games to get ready for the conference season ahead
Game #11
December 19, 2017 • 7:00 p.m. (ET)
TD Arena/John Kresse Court (5,100)
at Charleston, S.C.
Television: None
Radio: College of Charleston Radio Network (ESPN Radio 910 AM)
Series History: CofC Leads 12-8
Last Meeting: CofC def. South Carolina State, 74-54, on Nov. 13, 2015 in Charleston, S.C.
Internet: Free Live Statistics at www.CofCStats.com
Live Video: Free Live Video at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/charleston/
Tickets: www.CofCSports.com/tickets
Twitter: @CofCBasketball
THE COACHES
College of Charleston: Earl Grant
Fourth Year at CofC: 58-51
Fourth Year Overall: 58-51
South Carolina State: Murray Gavin
Fifth Year at SC State: 56-88
Fifth Year Overall: 56-88
TELEVISION (None)
RADIO (College of Charleston Radio Network)
Play-By-Play: Everett German
Color Analyst: Danny Johnson
GAME PREVIEW
The College of Charleston men's basketball team (7-3) will close out non-conference play this week with two Palmetto State foes. First up will be South Carolina State (4-9) on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. (ET) at TD Arena and then a road trip to Coastal Carolina on Friday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. (ET) in Conway, S.C. The Cougars have won five of their last six, while the Bulldogs have won three of their last four. CofC is looking to rebound from a 68-62 loss at Atlantic 10 Conference preseason favorite Rhode Island on Dec. 16, while SC State has won back-to-back games against Charleston Southern (91-88 OT) and Jacksonville (83-74). The Cougars currently rank No. 26 nationally in scoring defense, holding opponents to 62.7 points per game including 68 points or less in each of their last six-straight contests. With school out for winter break, the team is now focused on fine-tuning their mechanics on both ends of the floor in the next two-game stretch, before the Colonial Athletic Association opener versus Towson on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 4:00 p.m. (ET) at TD Arena. Senior guard Joe Chealey and sophomore guard Grant Riller lead the team in scoring averaging 18.4 points and 14.6 points per game respectively. Riller led the Cougars at URI with 21 points, while junior big man Nick Harris recorded a career-high 18 points inside in the high-caliber meeting between two preseason league favorites.
A GLIMPSE AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE
South Carolina State senior guard Donte Wright, who is the team's leading scorer averaging 15.2 points per game, currently leads the country in three-point field goal attempts. He has made 47-of-117 three-pointers for a team-best 40.2 percent accuracy from long range this season. Wright made five of the team's seven threes in the win over Jacksonville on Dec. 16 in Orangeburg. The Bulldogs are 0-8 on the road this year including non-conference stops at Wisconsin, Boston College, UCLA and NC State. They are averaging 72.0 points per game with seven-straight contests over the 71-point mark.
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 will call the action live from TD Arena along with color analyst Danny Johnson on the College of Charleston Radio Network.
PROJECTED COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON STARTERS
#13 Joe Chealey, G, 6-4, 190, Sr. (18.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.7 apg, 34.6 min)
#1 Grant Riller, G, 6-3, 195, So. (14.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.7 apg, 31.4 min)
#12 Cameron Johnson, G, 6-4, 200, Sr. (9.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.9 apg, 34.1 min)
#24 Jaylen McManus, F, 6-7, 230, So. (5.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 0.5 apg, 20.3 min)
#23 Nick Harris, F, 6-10, 260, Jr. (7.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 0.4 apg, 26.3 min)
PROJECTED SOUTH CAROLINA STATE STARTERS
#11 Janai Raynor Powell, G, 5-10, 165, Jr. (7.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.9 apg, 24.9 min)
#13 Donte Wright, G, 5-10, 190, Sr. (15.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.1 apg, 27.6 min)
#1 Justin Jones, G, 6-2, 185, So. (7.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.8 apg, 18.7 min)
#24 Ian Kinard, F, 6-8, 210, So. (6.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.6 apg, 19.9 min)
#21 David Bottenberg, F, 6-8, 220, So. (2.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.3 apg, 12.2 min)
SERIES HISTORY
College of Charleston leads 12-8 in the all-time series with South Carolina State. The Cougars are 8-1 all-time when playing the Bulldogs at home since both teams began the series dating back to the 1973-74 season. Since becoming a NCAA Division I member school in 1991-92, CofC is 5-1 all-time versus SC State and has won the last five-straight meetings between the two Palmetto State schools.
LAST SIX GAMES IN THE SERIES
W, 74-54 on Nov. 13, 2015 (+20) in Charleston, S.C.
W, 88-73 on Jan. 2, 2010 (+15) in Charleston, S.C.
W, 94-72 on Nov. 24, 2008 (+22) in Orangeburg, S.C.
W, 70-57 on Nov. 29, 1993 (+13) in Charleston, S.C.
W, 73-48 on Feb. 11, 1992 (+25) in Charleston, S.C.
L, 52-60 (OT) on Jan. 22, 1992 (-8) in Orangeburg, S.C.
HOME SWEET HOME
College of Charleston is one of 132 remaining NCAA Division I schools that remains unbeaten at home this season and one of 106 with four-or-more wins. The Cougars have defeated Siena (OT), Western Carolina, High Point and North Greenville for a 4-0 mark in the friendly confines of TD Arena. Historically, CofC's home-court winning percentage is .835 and The College is two wins away from its 100th all-time win at TD Arena (formerly known as Carolina First Arena which opened in 2008).
TD ARENA ALL-TIME HOME WINS
No. 1 – CofC def. SIU Edwardsville, 72-66, on Nov. 14, 2008
No. 50 – CofC def. Old Dominion, 76-65, on Dec. 18, 2012
No. 100 – ??
RHODE ISLAND RECAP
Rhode Island 68, College of Charleston 62
• For the fourth-consecutive game, College of Charleston went with the starting five of Joe Chealey, Grant Riller, Cameron Johnson, Jaylen McManus and Nick Harris.
• Rhode Island moves to 3-0 in the all-time series with College of Charleston. It was the second time the Cougars played a game on the road at URI next to a 1996 meeting between the two schools in the second round of the NIT.
• Grant Riller recorded his third 20-point game of the season with a game-high 21 points at Rhode Island. It marked his 10th 20-point performance of his career and tied his season high. He is currently on a four-game double-digit scoring streak.
• Nick Harris registered a career-high 18 points including 12 in the first half alone at Rhode Island. He went 8-for-11 from the field and added six rebounds.
• Joe Chealey reached double figures for the 10th time this season and extended his double-digit scoring streak to 27-consecutive games with 12 points versus Rhode Island. He led the team in rebounding (8) for the second time this season.
• The Cougars defensively held Rhode Island to 68 points, which was also their second-lowest scoring production of the season next to a 68-64 loss at Alabama on Dec. 6. They also held them to 26.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc. URI came into the game ranked No. 63 in the nation in the category (38.6%).
COUGAR SOUND BITES
"I learned that you have to play really well to win on the road. You have to be really sharp against a NCAA Tournament-caliber type team (like Rhode Island). I also learned that this team is capable of a lot of really good things, if we continue to improve throughout the season. We can be a special team. It wasn't our most complete game, but I thought we outplayed them for most of the game. We were pretty much in control of the game, except for a minute and 30 stretch. I thought we were executing, moving the ball and defending really well. I could tell we were better than we were a month ago." – College of Charleston Head Coach Earl Grant on what he and the team learned from the Rhode Island game
"You know it will be a dog fight. Anytime you play someone in the state, you know they will be gunning for you. Every game is a challenge for us, especially those in state, because there is a sense of pride with those kind of games. We expect it to be competitive like any game and we look forward to the challenge." – CofC Senior Guard Joe Chealey on playing South Carolina State on Tuesday night
"Obviously, we heard about it a couple of weeks ago when it happened. It's scary. My thoughts and prayers went out to him as soon as it happened. But, I'm glad he is doing better and he is recovering. As long as he is healthy, it kind of puts things into perspective for you. There's a lot more than basketball that can be taken away from you in a split second. I know Coach (Grant's) and the rest of our players' thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. If he comes to the game tomorrow night, we will be sure to go up to him and let him know we are praying for him." – Chealey on South Carolina State senior guard Ty Solomon, who collapsed on the sidelines at NC State on Dec. 2
"The goal is to try to keep progressing as the season goes on. You want to be playing your best basketball in March at the (CAA) tournament. Before the second season, we want to fine tune everything in all aspects of the game – defense, offense, transition and rebounding." – Chealey on the team using the next two games to get ready for the conference season ahead
Players Mentioned
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