COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (17-6, 8-2 CAA) vs. UNCW (20-3, 9-1 CAA)
Game #24
February 2, 2017 • 7:00 p.m. (ET)
Trask Coliseum (5,122)
at Wilmington, N.C.
 
Television: None
Radio: College of Charleston Radio Network (ESPN Radio 910 AM)
Series History: UNCW Leads 12-10                                                                                                   
Last Meeting: UNCW def. CofC, 65-59, on Jan. 19, 2017 in Charleston, S.C.
Internet: Free Live Statistics at www.UNCWStats.com
Live Video: Free Live Video at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/uncw/
Twitter: @CofCBasketball
 
THE COACHES
College of Charleston: Earl Grant
Third Year at CofC: 43-44
Third Year Overall: 43-44
UNCW: Kevin Keatts
Third Year at UNCW: 63-25
Third Year Overall: 63-25
 
TELEVISION (None)
 
RADIO (College of Charleston Radio Network)
Play-By-Play: Everett German
Color Analyst: Danny Johnson
 
GAME PREVIEW
With eight games remaining in regular-season play, the College of Charleston men's basketball team (17-6, 8-2 CAA) has already matched its win total from a year ago and is only one game back in the current Colonial Athletic Association race. The Cougars will travel for a pivotal rematch with conference leader UNCW (20-3, 9-1 CAA) on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. (ET) in Wilmington, N.C. The game will pit the league's No. 1 defense (61.7 ppg) against the No. 1 offense (86.0 ppg). The Seahawks won the first edition of the annual home-and-home series between both schools – a hard-fought 65-59 victory on Jan. 19 at TD Arena. Since that early meeting, CofC's scoring production has gone up averaging 80.0 points per game against its last three opponents in James Madison, Towson and Drexel. Reigning CAA Rookie of the Week Grant Riller knocked down a career-high 30 points in a 90-76 rout of Drexel on Jan. 28. CofC is currently No. 76 in the latest NCAA RPI rankings, while UNCW is No. 31. It is the program's highest RPI rating since the 2010-11 season.
 
SCOUTING UNCW
William & Mary snapped UNCW's nine-game win streak and handed them their first loss in conference action (96-78) on Jan. 28 in Williamsburg, Va. The Seahawks had previously only lost to Middle Tennessee State in the opening round of the Music City Challenge on Nov. 25 in Nashville and on the road at Clemson on Dec. 28. Four of the Top 10 scorers in the league hail from UNCW and College of Charleston in C.J. Bryce (2nd, 16.9 ppg), Joe Chealey (4th, 16.2 ppg), Chris Flemmings (6th, 16.1 ppg) and Denzel Ingram (8th, 15.2 ppg).
 
COUGARS OFF TO BEST START SINCE 2008-09
The Cougars are off to their best start since going 17-6 in their first 23 games of the season back in 2008-09. That same squad under former head coach Bobby Cremins would compile a 27-9 overall record and earn a CBI postseason tournament berth. They also went 18-6 in their first 24 games.
 
MAKING EVERY SHOT COUNT
The Cougars have gone to the free throw line a total of 539 times this season with 397 makes for a league-best 73.7 accuracy, which ranks No. 64 among NCAA statistical leaders in the category. James Madison is second in the CAA shooting 71.0%. It marks the program's best percentage from the free throw line since shooting 74.1 percent (441-of-595) during the 2010-11 season. CofC went a season-best 30-of-31 from the charity stripe (96.8%) at Drexel on Jan. 28.
 
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 Trask Coliseum with color analyst Danny Johnson on the College of Charleston Radio Network.
 
PROJECTED COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON STARTERS
#13 Joe Chealey, G, 6-4, 195, RS-Jr. (16.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.2 apg, 33.6 min)
#1 Grant Riller, G, 6-3, 185, RS-Fr. (12.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.0 apg, 24.8 min)
#12 Cameron Johnson, G, 6-4, 200, Jr. (7.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.8 apg, 31.7 min)
#5 Jarrell Brantley, F, 6-7, 250, So. (13.2 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.1 apg, 31.6 min)
#23 Nick Harris, F, 6-10, 250, So. (5.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 0.2 apg, 23.5 min)
 
PROJECTED UNCW STARTERS
#10 Denzel Ingram, G, 6-0, 175, RS-Sr. (15.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 5.7 apg, 33.3 min)
#12 C.J. Bryce, G, 6-5, 185, So. (16.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.2 apg, 33.8 min)
#00 Ambrose Mosley, G, 6-2, 185, Gr.-Sr. (8.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.2 apg, 24.0 min)
#1 Chris Flemmings, G, 6-5, 175, RS-Sr. (15.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.9 apg, 34.7 min)
#15 Devontae Cacok, F, 6-7, 240, So. (13.3 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 0.4 apg, 26.8 min)
 
THE ORLANDO CONNECTION
For the fourth time this season and second-straight game, 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 53 points in the program's first-ever road win at Drexel on Jan. 28 and a whopping 50 points in an overtime loss at Towson on Jan. 26.
 
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
Joe Chealey (23 points) and Grant Riller (30 points) at Drexel on Jan. 28, 2017 – 53 combined points
 
CHEALEY NEARING MILESTONE
Redshirt junior guard Joe Chealey is 34 points away from joining the 1,000 Career Point Club having tabulated 966 points to date. He would become the 34th all-time player in school history to reach that milestone. Chealey is also 26 assists shy of his second 100+ assist season as the Cougars' floor general (74).
 
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON ALL-TIME CAREER SCORING 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. John Drafts (1974-78) – 1,241
23. Andrew Lawrence (2009-13) – 1,219
24. Thomas Mobley (2000-04) – 1,218
25. Mike Beckett (1988-92) – 1,204
26. Jermel President (1996-99) – 1,175
27. Wes Champion (1985-88) – 1,171
28. Willis Hall (2009-14) – 1,152
29. Muzon Cheeks (1974-78) – 1,111
30. Troy Wheless (2000-03) – 1,108
31. Anthony Stitt (2011-15) – 1,091
32. Adjehi Baru (2011-15) – 1,090
33. Rick Carpenter (1969-71) – 1,029
 
SERIES HISTORY
UNCW leads 12-10 in the all-time series with College of Charleston. The Seahawks have also won the last eight-straight meetings between the two Coastal schools. Three of the last eight games in the series have been decided in overtime and double overtime. Meanwhile, the last three contests have been decided in single digits. Prior to CofC's conference realignment, both programs previously met in non-conference play each year from the 2001-02 season through the 2008-09 season.
 
LAST 14 GAMES IN THE SERIES
L, 59-65 on 1/19/17 in Charleston, S.C.
L, 64-66 on 3/5/16 in Baltimore, Md.^
L, 55-59 (OT) on 2/20/16 in Charleston, S.C.
L, 55-65 on 1/30/16 in Wilmington, N.C.
L, 53-79 on 3/7/15 in Baltimore, Md.^
L, 45-58 on 2/11/15 in Wilmington, N.C.
L, 56-58 (OT) on 1/21/15 in Charleston, S.C.
L, 55-57 (2OT) on 2/22/14 in Wilmington, N.C.
W, 75-70 on 1/22/14 in Charleston, S.C.
W, 100-80 on 12/19/08 in Charleston, S.C.
L, 91-98 on 11/10/07 in Wilmington, N.C.
W, 91-70 on 11/26/06 in Charleston, S.C.
W, 81-77 on 12/27/05 in Wilmington, N.C.
W, 59-57 on 12/16/04 in Charleston, S.C.
^ CAA Tournament
 
DREXEL RECAP
College of Charleston 90, Drexel 76
• With the win, College of Charleston now leads 6-4 in the all-time series with Drexel. It marked the program's first road win in four tries in the series since it first began in 1994.
• The Cougars scored a season-high 90 points at Drexel. It was their highest scoring input since 81 points vs. The Citadel in the season opener on Nov. 11.
• Grant Riller recorded his fifth career 20-point game with a career-high 30 points at Drexel. It was the second-most points scored by a CofC player this season behind a 31-point outing by Joe Chealey vs. Hofstra on Jan. 7. He also made a career-high six steals against the Dragons.
• Joe Chealey turned in his eighth career 20-point game and sixth of the season with 23 points at Drexel. He went a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line against the Dragons.
• For the second-straight game, Grant Riller and Joe Chealey combined for 53 points – more than the 50 points the duo combined for at Towson on Jan. 26.
• Jarrell Brantley has now scored in double figures for the 20th time this season in 23 games played. He also added a team-high seven rebounds at Drexel.
• Cameron Johnson scored in double figures for the fifth time this season with 10 points.
• CofC made a season-best 30 free throws on 31 attempts at Drexel.
• The Cougars made a league season-best 10 steals in the ballgame, which was the second-most of the season behind 11 vs. The Citadel on Nov. 11.
 
COUGAR SOUND BITES
"It's exciting, because we have a chance to keep playing these CAA games. We have eight games left and have played 10 so far. We are excited that at this point of the race, we are still in the race. We go play the game to the best of our ability on Thursday. We didn't play well against them (UNCW) the last time. We had a lot of missed opportunities. We shot 30 percent at the rim. We have to be more physical at the rim, embrace the contact and finish plays. Obviously, they won the championship last year. They are in first place right now and we are in second. We know it's a big game, but at the end of the day, it's the next game. We are excited about it, because we have played well enough to put ourselves in a situation to play in a meaningful game. That's a big deal for us. We haven't been in these situations a lot. It's the next step in our climb and we will continue to move the program forward." – College of Charleston Head Coach Earl Grant on the second go-around with UNCW
 
"The biggest thing is that we are older and have more experience now. The maturity factor. It's a lot easier to go on the road with second-and third-year guys than it is with just first-year guys. Last year, there were a lot of first-year guys, because our third year guys were injured." – Coach Grant on the team's maturity on the road this season
 
"We just need to come out focused and ready to play. We have to execute our game plan. We can't get too caught up in trying to get revenge, so to speak. Just playing hard is the key for us. Obviously, we learned that they (UNCW) are a tough team and are the real deal. We handled their pressure really well and didn't have too many turnovers in the last game against them. We can't let our emotions get the best of us and just have to go out there and stick to our game plan." – Redshirt Freshman Guard Grant Riller on prepping for the rematch with UNCW