Cougars Look To Defend Home Court Against James Madison

Saturday, January 27

TD Arena

3:00 PM

College of Charleston

James Madison

Tickets

Cougars Look To Defend Home Court Against James Madison

1/26/2018 6:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball

James Madison Game Notes

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (15-6, 6-3 CAA) vs. JAMES MADISON (6-16, 2-7 CAA)
Game #22
January 27, 2018 • 3:00 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 6-4
Last Meeting: CofC def. James Madison, 67-62, on March 4, 2017 in the CAA Quarterfinals 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: 66-54
Fourth Year Overall: 66-54
James Madison: Louis Rowe
2nd Year at JMU: 16-39
2nd Year Overall: 16-39

TELEVISION (None)

RADIO (College of Charleston Radio Network)
Play-By-Play: Everett German
Color Analyst: Danny Johnson

GAME PREVIEW
Riding a three-game win streak in conference play including a 62-54 road win at Delaware on Jan. 25, the College of Charleston men's basketball team (15-6, 6-3 CAA) returns home for a quick turnaround game against James Madison (6-16, 2-7 CAA) on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 3 p.m. (ET) at TD Arena. The Cougars will look to protect their home court where they are an undefeated 10-0 this season and have won 12 straight under fourth-year head coach Earl Grant. Reigning CAA Player of the Week Joe Chealey registered a game-high 23 points to lead Charleston to the regular-season series sweep of Delaware. There's probably unfinished business for the visiting Dukes as both teams last met in a closely-contested quarterfinal matchup of the CAA Men's Basketball Championship (W, 67-62) nearly a year ago. CofC was the No. 2 seed and JMU the No. 7 seed. Chealey had a team-high 21 points, while Jarrell Brantley turned in a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds in that last meeting. However, only two of the nine James Madison players who checked into that quarterfinal game return, posing a different challenge for the Charleston defense. The Cougars are holding opponents to a league-best 66.0 points per game and forcing 12.4 turnovers per game. Meanwhile, JMU leads the CAA in steals (7.7 avg.) and is looking to rebound from a close 71-68 road loss at UNCW on Jan. 25.

THE BOOK ON JAMES MADISON
James Madison is still searching for its first road win in league action after several close calls at UNCW, Hofstra (81-87) on Jan. 5 and William & Mary (82-89 OT) on Jan. 11. Three players are averaging double figures in scoring including redshirt junior guard Stuckey Mosley, who ranks third best in the CAA (19.3 ppg). The Dukes have beaten two teams, Elon and Drexel, in their last three contests and can't be overlooked based on their overall record. They currently rank fifth in the league in scoring offense averaging 74.6 points per game including three 80-point outings versus conference foes.

GAME PROMOTIONS
The Cougars will celebrate CofC Athletics Hall of Fame Weekend with recognition of its 2018 induction class comprised of former College of Charleston Volleyball Head Coach Sherry Dunbar-Kruzan (2003-06), baseball All-American Lee Curtis (2002-03) and volleyball standout Mary Sabatino (1999-2003) during the first media timeout of the first half at Saturday's game versus James Madison. The game is sponsored by Chick-fil-A and the first 100 CofC students will receive free Chick-fil-A sandwiches. The Orange Grove Elementary Choir will sing the National Anthem. A limited number of tickets are still available for purchase in-person at the CofC Box Office, by calling (843) 953-COFC or online at: www.CofCSports.com/tickets

SUITS AND SNEAKERS WEEK
Coaches vs. Cancer Suits And Sneakers® Week is a nationwide event from Jan. 22-28 that unites coaches across the country to raise funds and awareness about the fight against cancer, and promotes the American Cancer Society as a source of inspiration and hope for those facing cancer. While coaching games during the week, coaches wear sneakers with their game attire as a visible reminder about the importance of fighting cancer. Donate to the cause at: www.coachesvscancer.org

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. (18.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.6 apg, 35.2 min)
#1 Grant Riller, G, 6-3, 195, So. (16.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.0 apg, 32.9 min)
#12 Cameron Johnson, G, 6-4, 200, Sr. (8.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.6 apg, 32.8 min)
#5 Jarrell Brantley, F, 6-7, 250, Jr. (15.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.9 apg, 30.2 min)
#23 Nick Harris, F, 6-10, 260, Jr. (6.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 0.4 apg, 26.2 min)

PROJECTED JAMES MADISON STARTERS
#3 Stuckey Mosley, G, 6-3, 190, RS-Jr. (19.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.1 apg, 35.0 min)
#1 Matt Lewis, G, 6-5, 180, Fr. (12.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 29.5 min)
#5 Darius Banks, G, 6-5, 225, Fr. (9.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.7 apg, 28.8 min)
#23 Ramone Snowden, F, 6-6, 230, RS-Sr. (6.8 rpg, 4.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 29.4 min)
#12 DeVelle Phillips, F, 6-9, 210, Jr. (9.0 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.0 apg, 23.7 min)

SERIES HISTORY
College of Charleston leads 6-4 in the all-time series with James Madison. Last season, the Cougars won all three meetings with the Dukes including a 67-62 win in the quarterfinals of the CAA Tournament on March 4, 2017 at the North Charleston Coliseum. Five of the last six meetings between the two schools have been decided in single digits. CofC is 3-2 in the series on its home court.

LAST 10 GAMES IN THE SERIES
W, 67-62 (+5) on March 4, 2017 in North Charleston, S.C.^
W, 73-60 (+13) on Jan. 21, 2017 in Charleston, S.C.
W, 53-51 (+2) on Jan. 12, 2017 in Harrisonburg, Va.
L, 52-56 (-4) on Feb. 11, 2016 in Charleston, S.C.
W, 65-62 (+3) on Dec. 31, 2015 in Harrisonburg, Va.
L, 61-68 (-7) on Feb. 22, 2015 in Harrisonburg, Va.
L, 50-61 (-11) on Jan. 5, 2015 in Charleston, S.C.
L, 56-58 (-2) on Jan. 25, 2014 in Harrisonburg, Va.
W, 75-61 (+14) on Jan. 7, 2014 in Charleston, S.C.
W, 76-53 (+23) on Dec. 30, 2007 in Charleston, S.C.
^ CAA Tournament

HOME SWEET HOME
College of Charleston is one of 34 remaining NCAA Division I schools that remains unbeaten at home this season. Of those 34, only 22 schools have won 10-or-more at home to date. The Cougars have defeated Siena (OT), Western Carolina, High Point, North Greenville, South Carolina State, Towson, Delaware, Northeastern, UNCW and Hofstra for a 10-0 mark in the friendly confines of TD Arena. Historically, CofC's home-court winning percentage is .837 and The College picked up its 100th all-time win at TD Arena (formerly known as Carolina First Arena which opened in 2008) in a 73-62 win over Towson in the CAA opener.

DELAWARE RECAP
College of Charleston 62, Delaware 54
• For the ninth-straight CAA game, the College of Charleston went with the starting five of Joe Chealey, Grant Riller, Cameron Johnson, Jarrell Brantley and Nick Harris.
• With the win, College of Charleston swept the regular-season series with Delaware for the second-straight year. The Cougars are now on a five-game win streak in the series.
• Joe Chealey registered a game-high 23 points at Delaware and has now scored in double figures in 20-of-21 games this season. It marked his eighth game this season with 20-or-more points in a single game. He has now tabulated 1,606 career points to date.
• Marquise Pointer recorded his sixth double-figure game of the season with 10 points at Delaware.
• Grant Riller extended his double-digit scoring streak to six-straight CAA games with 11 points at Delaware.
• The Cougars outrebounded the Blue Hens with a season-high 45 rebounds. It was the most since grabbing 44 boards versus South Carolina State on Dec. 19.
• Jarrell Brantley brought down a season-high and game-high 12 rebounds at Delaware and was short of a double-double with nine points.
• Samba Ndiaye came off the bench and contributed a career-high six rebounds including four on the offensive glass.
• There were eight ties in the ballgame and Delaware led by as many as 10 at the 10:35 minute mark in the first half.

COUGAR SOUND BITES
"Every team is good (no matter their record). James Madison is the next one up for us. We will prepare for them by watching film and deciding what's the best game plan to put ourselves in a good position. We know it's going to be a dog fight. Every game in the CAA is a dog fight. It's a Saturday game at 3 o'clock. We had a great crowd against Hofstra last week. We need another great crowd like that to energize our players, so we can continue to protect our home court." – CofC Head Coach Earl Grant on playing James Madison

"Obviously, we have a lot of good guards. Sometimes when it becomes crucial to make a decision, you have to decide who you're going to take out. Do you take out Joe (Chealey) or Cam (Johnson)? Who is going to guard the other team's best player if you take out Cam? If you take Nick (Harris) out, are you going to put Samba (Ndiaye), Jaylen (McManus) or Evan (Bailey) in? Marquise (Pointer) is so good and valuable. You just say, 'hey, you have to put Marquise in,' because he makes winning plays, energizes his teammates and he likes to take big shots. We have been going to that lineup, because we have four guards and it's hard to decide who to take out." – Coach Grant on using a smaller lineup early in the last couple of games against Hofstra and Delaware