COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (12-6, 3-3 CAA) vs. UNCW (5-13, 2-4 CAA)
Game #19
January 18, 2018 • 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: UNCW Leads 13-11
Last Meeting: UNCW def. CofC, 78-69, on March 6, 2017 in CAA Finals at North 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: 63-54
Fourth Year Overall: 63-54
UNCW: C.B. McGrath
First Year at UNCW: 5-13
First Year Overall: 5-13
 
TELEVISION (None)
 
RADIO (College of Charleston Radio Network)
Play-By-Play: Everett German
Color Analyst: Danny Johnson
 
GAME PREVIEW
Over the last five years since the College of Charleston (12-6, 3-3 CAA) joined the Colonial Athletic Association in 2013, no other team has fit the mold of being a replacement for Davidson as a conference rival more so than UNCW (5-13, 2-4 CAA). Be it the close proximity of both schools or that the Cougars and Seahawks reside in two of the most beautiful coastal cities in the Southeastern U.S., it will be a hard-fought battle as both programs face-off for the first time in a rematch of last year's CAA title game on Thursday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. (ET) at TD Arena. While UNCW may have a different look under new coaching leadership, junior big man Devontae Cacok (17.5 ppg and 12.9 rpg) and senior guard Jordon Talley (16.1 ppg) return for the defending league champions as do CofC's starting five from a year ago in CAA All-Tournament Team selections Joe Chealey (17.6 ppg) and Jarrell Brantley (17.4 ppg) for the preseason league favorites. The Cougars are the only Colonial squad that remains undefeated at home with a perfect 8-0 mark, but are 0-3 in league play on the road looking to rebound from a 63-58 loss at Elon on Jan. 13. As a team, CofC currently ranks No. 44 in the nation in scoring defense holding opponents to a league-best 65.8 points per game and No. 14 in fewest turnovers.
 
UNCW AT-A-GLANCE
Under first-year head coach C.B. McGrath, UNCW is scoring 80.1 points per game which is second-most in the CAA behind William & Mary (86.4 ppg). The Seahawks have had three overtime games this season including in back-to-back contests at Elon (W, 80-78) on Jan. 11 and Northeastern (L, 77-81) on Jan. 13. They picked up their first league win in a 107-87 victory over Drexel on Jan. 2. It marked the third time this season the team had surpassed the 100-point scoring mark in a single game.
 
GAME PROMOTIONS
Fans are encouraged to wear white to the White Out Game versus UNCW on Thursday at TD Arena. The first 1,000 CofC students will receive free T-Shirts. Free "fandanas" provided by Coca-Cola and white rally towels will be handed out to fans (while supplies last). Military, veterans and first responders (with valid ID) can purchase tickets for $5.
 
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 alongside color analyst Danny Johnson on the College of Charleston Radio Network.
 
PROJECTED COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON STARTERS
#13 Joe Chealey, G, 6-4, 190, Sr. (17.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.9 apg, 35.4 min)
#1 Grant Riller, G, 6-3, 195, So. (15.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.9 apg, 32.9 min)
#12 Cameron Johnson, G, 6-4, 200, Sr. (8.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.8 apg, 32.8 min)
#5 Jarrell Brantley, F, 6-7, 250, Jr. (17.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 30.9 min)
#23 Nick Harris, F, 6-10, 260, Jr. (6.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 0.4 apg, 25.7 min)
 
PROJECTED UNCW STARTERS
#4 Jordon Talley, G, 6-1, 180, Sr. (16.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 5.9 apg, 28.6 min)
#21 Ty Taylor, G, 6-3, 160, RS-So. (12.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.8 apg, 27.5 min)
#1 Jaylen Fornes, G, 6-3, 205, So. (12.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.9 apg, 26.6 min)
#30 Marcus Bryan, F, 6-7, 242, RS-Sr. (5.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 0.8 apg, 25.1 min)
#15 Devontae Cacok, F, 6-7, 240, Jr. (17.5 ppg, 12.9 rpg, 1.2 apg, 28.2 min)
 
WHAT 2 WATCH 4
CofC junior forward Jarrell Brantley (999) and senior guard Cameron Johnson (996) will look to join the 1,000 Career-Point Club against UNCW. Brantley is one point and Johnson four points shy of becoming only the 35th and 36th all-time players (NCAA Division I and NAIA) in school history to do so. Brantley, who has grabbed 572 career rebounds to date, could become one of only 12 players all-time to record 1,000 career points and 600 rebounds (28 shy) in a career at The College.
 
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CHARITY
The Cougars have attempted 378 free throws this season in which they have converted 285 for a 75.4 percent accuracy from the charity stripe this season. That percentage ranks No. 44 in the country and second best in the league behind William & Mary (.819). Joe Chealey, the school-record holder for career free throws made (479), ranks No. 20 nationally in free throws made (108) and No. 24 in free throws attempted (129). He is shooting 83.7 percent from the charity stripe this season, which is fifth best in the CAA. In conference games only, Chealey has gone 46-of-51 (6th, 90.2%) and Jarrell Brantley 23-of-26 (8th, 88.5%).
 
SERIES NOTES
UNCW leads 13-11 in the all-time series with College of Charleston. Last season, the Cougars snapped an eight-game skid in the series between the two Coastal schools winning a 67-66 road thriller on Feb. 2, 2017 in Wilmington, N.C. The last five 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 15 GAMES IN THE SERIES
L, 78-69, on 3/6/17 in North Charleston, S.C.^
W, 67-66, on 2/2/17 in Wilmington, N.C.
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.
^ CAA Tournament
 
ELON RECAP
Elon 63, College of Charleston 58
• For the sixth-straight game in CAA action, College of Charleston used the starting lineup of Joe Chealey, Grant Riller, Cameron Johnson, Jarrell Brantley and Nick Harris.
• College of Charleston played its last game at Alumni Gym in the all-time series with Elon as the school opens a new campus arena for the 2018-19 season. The Cougars compiled an 8-3 record versus the Phoenix at Alumni Gym since 1950.
• Jarrell Brantley recorded a team-high 16 points and seven rebounds in the loss at Elon. He also added two assists, two blocked shots and two steals in 36 minutes of play. Brantley, who has scored in double figures in the last six-consecutive games, has now tabulated 999 career points to date.
• Joe Chealey registered 14 points and brought down five rebounds at Elon. He surpassed former CofC standout Jeff Bolton (1999-02) for seventh all-time on the school's all-time career scorers list with 1,532 career points date. Chealey has now scored in double figures in 17-of-18 games this season.
• Grant Riller also added 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field at Elon. He extended his double-digit scoring streak to three-straight contests.
• Nick Harris grabbed a game-high tying and team-high 11 rebounds including 10 on the defensive end at Elon. It marked his third double-figure rebounding game of the season and seventh of his career.
• The Cougars went a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line behind Joe Chealey (4-for-4), Grant Riller (3-for-3) and Jarrell Brantley (2-for-2). It was their best performance from the charity stripe this season ahead of a 9-for-10 outing versus Cal Poly at the GCI Great Alaska Shootout on Nov. 22.
 
COUGAR SOUND BITES
"We had two games last week. We played really well in one (against Northeastern), and the next one, we didn't play quite as well (at Elon). It's the next game up and we know it's going to be a great challenge. All of the games that we have seen so far in conference play have been very challenging and have come down to a few possessions. We will have to have a great game plan and play well to be successful. They (UNCW) are scoring a lot of points. They play fast, shoot it and don't press as much. They will challenge our defense and we have to be sharp on Thursday." – CofC Head Coach Earl Grant on the rematch with UNCW
 
"We had troubles on the road last year, but we just happened to win those close games. We won last year at James Madison by one and at Delaware in a close game. This year, we went to Towson and didn't play well. We lost on the road to Drexel by one-or-two shots. It's similar to last year, but we just made a few more shots than the other team. We didn't play well enough in our last two road games. Last year, in those same situations, we won those road games by making a shot down the stretch. We have to continue to work at it, stay the course and understand we want to be playing at our highest level at the end of the season." – Coach Grant on the team's road struggles
 
"For the most part, they (UNCW) have a new team and their energy will be different than last year. But, it's still another CAA game and another tough opponent we have to prepare for." CofC Sophomore Guard Grant Riller on the rematch with UNCW
 
"Just being comfortable. We practice in here (TD Arena) every day and the fans provide us with a great support system. No matter where you are, it's easier to play at home. On the road, you have to be 10 points better. Every team has been giving us their best shot. We know when we go into another arena, we have to be 10 points better." – Riller on the team's success at home in comparison to the team's recent road struggles