Cougars Tip-Off Season With Presbyterian College On Tuesday

Tuesday, November 6

TD Arena

7:00 PM

College of Charleston

Presbyterian

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Cougars Tip-Off Season With Presbyterian College On Tuesday

11/5/2018 10:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Presbyterian College Game Notes

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (0-0, 0-0 CAA) vs. PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE (0-0, 0-0 Big South)
Game #1
November 6, 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 | 94.7 FM)
Series History: Presbyterian College Leads 62-39
Last Meeting: CofC def. Presbyterian College, 56-62, on Dec. 14, 1996 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
Fifth Year at CofC: 77-56
Fifth Year Overall: 77-56
Presbyterian: Dustin Kerns
Second Year at PC: 11-21
Second Year Overall: 11-21

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 will officially tip-off its 109th overall season with Presbyterian College on Tuesday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. (ET) at TD Arena. The Cougars, defending Colonial Athletic Association champions, return three starters and 10 letterwinners from last year's NCAA Tournament squad. CofC boasts two preseason All-CAA First Team selections in junior guard Grant Riller (18.6 ppg) and senior forward Jarrell Brantley (17.3 ppg). Both the Cougars and Blue Hose last met on Dec. 14, 1996 with College of Charleston claiming a 62-56 victory at the old John Kresse Arena. Charleston has won six-straight games in the all-time series with PC. The College will be tested early beginning a four-game stretch that includes matchups at Western Carolina (Nov. 10), vs. Rhode Island (Nov. 13) and at Oklahoma State (Nov. 18).

GAME PROMOTIONS
The first 500 fans will receive a mini-replica banner to celebrate College of Charleston's 2018 NCAA Tournament run. Tickets are still available for purchase by calling (843) 953-COFC or online at: www.CofCSports.com/tickets

EARLIEST START IN PROGRAM HISTORY
For College of Charleston, the Presbyterian game will mark the earliest start in program history. The Cougars previously opened the 2013-14 regular season at defending national champion and No. 3-ranked Louisville (L, 48-70) on Nov. 9, 2013 in Louisville, Kentucky, and hosted Towson (W, 75-58) on Nov. 9, 2012 at TD Arena.

A LOOK AT PRESBYTERIAN
The Blue Hose are only in their seventh season as a NCAA Division I athletics program becoming a full-fledged member during the 2012-13 season. They were picked to finish ninth in the preseason Big South Conference Poll. Last year, Presbyterian College went 11-21 in head coach Dustin Kerns' first season. The Blue Hose will play four of their first six games of the season on the road including at CofC (Nov. 6), Tennessee Tech (Nov. 10), Marquette (Nov. 17) and UCLA (Nov. 19).

COFC IN SEASON OPENERS
The Cougars are 15-2 all-time in home openers since 1991-92. Last year, they opened the season winning a 68-60 overtime thriller over Siena on Nov. 10, 2017 at TD Arena. In the Earl Grant Era, CofC is 4-0 in season openers.

LAST TIME OUT
Three players scored in double figures as CofC rolled to a 95-43 exhibition win over NCAA Division II Benedict College on Nov. 1 at TD Arena. Grant Riller scored a game-high 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field. Jarrell Brantley recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Zep Jasper added 14 points in his unofficial collegiate debut.

COUGARS ON THE AIRWAVES
Fans can listen to all CofC men's basketball games throughout the 2018-19 season on ESPN Radio 910 AM and 94.7 FM 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 (*2017-18 Statistics)
#10 Zep Jasper, G, 6-1, 170, RS-Fr. (DNP)
#1 Grant Riller, G, 6-3, 190, Jr. (18.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.0 apg, 33.6 min*)
#2 Brevin Galloway, G, 6-2, 215, So. (0.4 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 0.1 apg, 4.3 min*)
#5 Jarrell Brantley, F, 6-7, 255, Sr. (17.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.7 apg, 32.3 min*)
#23 Nick Harris, F, 6-10, 270, Sr. (5.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 0.4 apg, 25.5 min*)

PROJECTED PRESBYTERIAN STARTERS (*2017-18 Statistics)
#5 Davon Bell, G, 5-10, 175, RS-Sr. (12.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 5.2 apg, 33.7 min*)
#10 Adam Flagler, G, 6-3, 170, Fr. (DNP)
#25 JC Younger, G, 6-4, 200, Jr. (10.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.1 apg, 29.7 min*)
#12 Cory Hightower, F, 6-7, 215, Fr. (DNP)
#15 Francois Lewis, F, 6-9, 230, Sr. (12.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.0 apg, 21.5 min*)

COUGARS AGAINST THE BIG SOUTH
The Cougars have won 12 of their last 15 contests against Big South Conference opponents including victories over Campbell (2014 and 2015), Winthrop (2009), Charleston Southern (2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012), Coastal Carolina (2010, 2011 and 2012), UNC Asheville (2011) and High Point (2017). CofC last faced a Big South opponent claiming a 70-58 victory over High Point on Dec. 4, 2017 at TD Arena.

SERIES NOTES
Presbyterian leads the all-time series, 62-39, but College of Charleston has won the last six-straight meetings between the two Palmetto State schools. This will only be the second meeting in both school's NCAA Division I Eras. CofC's first NCAA season was in 1991-92 as both schools competed in NAIA in their previous yearly matchups. PC is one of the program's oldest opponent series dating all the way back to the 1921-22 season.

LAST 10 GAMES IN THE SERIES
W, 62-56 on 12/14/1996 in Charleston, S.C.
W, 82-76 on 2/20/1989 in Clinton, S.C.
W, 67-55 on 12/10/1989 in Charleston, S.C.
W, 73-69 on 2/22/1988 in Charleston, S.C.
W, 75-55 on 12/12/1987 in Clinton, S.C.
W, 68-64 on 3/5/1987 in Charleston, S.C.
L, 49-57 on 2/19/1987 in Charleston, S.C.
W, 72-69 on 12/13/1986 in Clinton, S.C.
W, 52-51 on 2/20/1986 in Clinton, S.C.
L, 57-58 on 12/1/1985 in Charleston, S.C.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
CofC currently owns the third-longest active home winning streak (16 wins) in the country after going an undefeated 14-0 at TD Arena in 2017-18. Only South Dakota State (20) and Houston (17) have longer home-court winning streaks in NCAA Division I leading into the 2018-19 season. Others included on that elite list: Montana (15), Utah Valley (14), St. Bonaventure (13), North Carolina A&T (13) and Buffalo (12).

FROM THE SIDELINES
College of Charleston Assistant Coach Quinton Ferrell is a 2007 alum of Presbyterian College. He spent five years as an assistant coach at his alma mater and helped the Blue Hose transition from NCAA Division II status into the NCAA Division I ranks in 2007-08. Ferrell was part of a staff, which engineered victories over Auburn, Wake Forest and No. 20-ranked Cincinnati during his time in Clinton, S.C. As a player, he served as team captain during his senior season and led PC in assists and steals in each of his final two seasons and was twice named the program's Most Valuable Defensive Player.

COUGAR SOUND BITES
"Presbyterian has a very experienced team and they have some big-time shooters. They have a five-man (senior forward Francois Lewis) who can shoot threes. We will have to guard him as he will present a unique matchup for our big guys. We just have to play Charleston Basketball by contesting shots and getting them in control in transition. With their experience, we know we will have a fight on our hands on Tuesday night." – CofC Head Coach Earl Grant on scouting Presbyterian

"Obviously, it (the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1999) was a great experience for our city, the school and our program. We put some footprints in the sand and hung a banner. But last year is over. We now talk about getting our ax back out and swinging and cutting. Store up some wood for the winter. You have to do it all over again. You have to work, chip away and embrace the process of trying to become something again. Last year, we really embraced the process of working hard everyday. The guys are doing that now. That's really been our focus in the preseason." – Grant on building on last year's success

"Joe (Chealey) was special. It's a little different without those guys. But, we play the same and have the same scheme. From a leadership standpoint, our guys are working it out through a committee of three-to-four guys to fill that void. We've had a scrimmage and an exhibition game. I really like what I see. This is probably the most athletic team that we've had and the deepest team that we've had from top-to-bottom. There's strength in numbers and I'm excited about that." – Grant on the loss of his Senior Class, who led the Cougars to the NCAA Tournament and CAA Championship title last year

"Coach (Grant) is doing a good job of trying to hand me the torch. It's now my team and I get to lead. It should be a fun season ahead. Last year was exciting, but it's a new year and we have a lot of new guys who can contribute. Now, we have to show them what it takes to get there again. As soon as that game (against Auburn in the NCAA First Round) was over, we came back thinking, 'we have to get back and make a deeper tournament run next year.' That's our motivation and our mission." – Senior Forward Jarrell Brantley on being the elder statesman on the team and building on last year's success

"Our chemistry is so good on our team. It's no different than any other year – we will still defend and rebound. We have a lot of new guys that should help us. I'm really excited to see all of them play and develop this season." – Brantley on the newcomers to the team and not having last year's seniors on this year's squad