Saturday, November 23
Orlando, Fla.
2:00 PM
College of Charleston
at
UCF
Photo by: AlSamuels.com
UCF Next Road Test For Cougars In Riller Homecoming
11/22/2019 5:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (3-1, 0-0 CAA) vs. UCF (2-1, 0-0 American)
Game #5
November 23, 2019 • 2:00 p.m. (ET)
Addition Financial Arena (10,000)
at Orlando, Fla.
Television: ESPN3
Radio: College of Charleston Radio Network (ESPN Radio 910 AM | 94.7 FM)
Series History: CofC Leads 12-5
Last Meeting: UCF def. CofC, 60-40, on Nov. 18, 2016 at ESPN Charleston Classic in Charleston, S.C.
Internet: Live Statistics at http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=277779
Live On-Demand Video: https://www.espn.com/watch
Twitter: @CofCBasketball
THE COACHES
College of Charleston: Earl Grant
Sixth Year at CofC: 104-66
Sixth Year Overall: 104-66
UCF: Johnny Dawkins
Fourth Year at UCF: 69-35
12th Year Overall: 225-150
TELEVISION (ESPN3)
Play-By-Play: Ari Shanok
Color Analyst: Mike O'Donnell
RADIO (College of Charleston Radio Network)
Play-By-Play: Everett German
GAME PREVIEW
UCF (2-1) is the next road test for the College of Charleston men's basketball team (3-1) in the midst of a five-game stretch away from the friendly confines of TD Arena. The Cougars will meet the Knights for the 18th time in the series on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. (ET) at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, Fla. The contest, which is a non-bracketed game of next week's Paycom Wooden Legacy tournament in Anaheim, Calif., will be televised nationally on ESPN3. It will be the second and last homecoming trip to the Orlando area for preseason Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year Grant Riller, who is currently the team's leading scorer averaging 21.8 points per game (No. 24 nationally) and starred at nearby Ocoee High School. On the other side of the ball, he also ranks No. 13 in the country in steals per game (3.50 avg.). Last year over the Thanksgiving holiday break, Riller was named to the AdvoCare Invitational All-Tournament Team after back-to-back 30-point outings in wins over UAB and Memphis in front of his hometown crowd. CofC shot its highest percentage of the season from the floor (48.4%) in a 76-66 road victory at Marshall on Nov. 19. The Cougars converted 30-of-62 field goals including 14-of-27 (51.9%) in the second half against the Thundering Herd. It also marked the second game of the season where they had four-or-more players contribute in the scoring column behind Riller's game-high 22 points.
A LOOK AT UCF
UCF is coming off an at-large NCAA Tournament berth a year ago (beat VCU in first round and lost to Duke in the second round), but has an entirely different roster with eight transfers and three freshmen newcomers. One familiar face is graduate senior guard Matt Milon, who previously played for league rival William & Mary. In both team's last meeting in the 2016 ESPN Charleston Classic semifinals, former UCF big man Tacko Fall was a sophomore and he is now currently playing in the NBA for the Boston Celtics. The Knights recently bounced back from a 79-70 loss to Miami (Fla.) on Nov. 12 with a close 67-65 road win at Illinois State on Nov. 17.
COUGARS ON THE AIRWAVES
Fans can listen to all CofC men's basketball games throughout the 2019-20 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 Addition Financial Arena.
PROJECTED COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON STARTERS
#10 Zep Jasper, G, 6-1, 175, So. (6.8 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.8 apg, 26.0 min)
#1 Grant Riller, G, 6-3, 190, Sr. (21.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.5 apg, 33.5 min)
#2 Brevin Galloway, G, 6-2, 215, Jr. (11.5 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.8 apg, 28.5 min)
#24 Jaylen McManus, F, 6-7, 230, Sr. (12.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 0.3 apg, 29.3 min)
#33 Osinachi Smart, C/F, 6-8, 240, Jr. (2.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 0.0 apg, 15.0 min)
PROJECTED UCF STARTERS
#12 Dazon Ingram, G, 6-6, 205, RS-Sr. (10.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.3 apg, 29.3 min)
#2 Matt Milon, G, 6-4, 210, RS-Sr. (2.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.3 apg, 20.0 min)
#20 Frank Bertz, G, 6-5, 180, Sr. (7.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.0 apg, 25.7 min)
#14 Ibrahim Famouke Doumbia, F, 6-7, 205, RS-So. (1.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.7 apg, 8.3 min)
#35 Collin Smith, F, 6-11, 240, RS-Jr. (13.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.0 apg, 28.7 min)
SERIES HISTORY
CofC leads 12-5 in the all-time series versus UCF including a 5-2 record on the road. Former members of the Trans America Athletic Conference (TAAC) in the early 90s, the Knights have won four of the last six meetings between the two schools. They last met in tournament settings in the ESPN Charleston Classic in 2016 and inaugural Battle 4 Atlantis in 2011. This will be the first road trip to Orlando for the Cougars since an 82-64 loss to UCF in TAAC play on Dec. 12, 2002.
LAST SIX GAMES IN SERIES
L, 40-60 on 11/18/16 in Charleston, S.C.
L, 63-74 on 11/24/11 in Paradise Island, Bahamas
W, 72-63 on 11/26/03 in Charleston, S.C.
L, 64-82 on 12/12/02 in Orlando, Fla.
W, 81-66 on 2/27/98 in Charleston, S.C.
L, 68-70 (OT) on 2/21/98 in Charleston, S.C.
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CHARITY
The Cougars are a team you don't want to send to the charity stripe. They have made 76.8 percent of their free throws this season (73-of-95) which currently ranks No. 39 among NCAA Division I statistical leaders. Three players are currently shooting over 80 percent on the season from the line – Grant Riller (87.9%), Zep Jasper (85.7%) and Jaylen McManus (80.0%). Between the Georgia State and Oklahoma State game Riller was a perfect 20-for-20 from the line until going 3-for-5 at Marshall.
MORE ON RILLER
A preseason Lute Olson Award and Lou Henson Award Watch List candidate, Grant Riller is also one of the Top 5 active career scoring leaders in the nation and No. 1 in the CAA with 1,883 career points to date. The fifth-year senior has recorded three 20-point performances in just the team's four games alone including a season-high 26 points against USC Upstate in the season opener.
NCAA DIVISION I ACTIVE CAREER SCORING LEADERS
1. Jermaine Marrow (Hampton) – 2,095 points
2. Markus Howard (Marquette) – 2,029 points
3. Charles Williams (Howard) – 1,901 points
4. Grant Riller (College of Charleston) – 1,883 points
5. Marcus Evans (VCU) – 1,850 points
MARSHALL RECAP
College of Charleston 76, Marshall 66
• College of Charleston started Zep Jasper, Grant Riller, Brevin Galloway, Jaylen McManus and Osinachi Smart (3-1).
• With the win, College of Charleston improves to 1-0 in the all-time series with Marshall. It was a first-time meeting between the two schools and Marshall will return the home-and-home series next season at TD Arena.
• Grant Riller extended his double-digit scoring streak to 32-consecutive games with a game-high 22 points at Marshall. He has now tabulated 1,883 career points to date.
• The Cougars tied their season high with nine steals against the Thundering Herd. They also forced them into 18 turnovers which resulted in 19 points.
• Jaylen McManus turned in his third-straight game in double digits with 12 points and a career-high nine rebounds at Marshall.
• Sam Miller recorded a season-high 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field at Marshall.
• Zep Jasper registered double figures in scoring for the seventh time of his career with 10 points versus the Thundering Herd.
• Brevin Galloway also added 12 points – his third double-figure game in the last four games for the Cougars.
• CofC improves to 37-14 all-time against opponents from Conference USA.
COUGAR SOUND BITES
"We just have to build on it. Certainly, we did some really good things on the road at Marshall. Defensively and offensively. We had five guys in double figures, so it was good to see so many guys contribute. Right now, we need to find a way to build on it. We need to make sure to take care of the ball. We need to make sure we take good shots, so we can get our defense set. We need to make sure we value the possession and continue to improve in our defensive rebounding. We've had two days to prepare and get better, so that's the most important thing for us right now." – CofC Head Coach Earl Grant on building on the Marshall road win heading into another difficult road game at UCF
"We've been trying to get him (Grant Riller) back home for about five years. It's been hard. It just happened to work out this year with Central Florida and both of our schedules. We will be going down there for a true road contest." – Coach Grant on finally being able to schedule a road game in Orlando for senior Grant Riller
"Obviously, recruiting is really important in sports and you've got to have good players. We knew he was a talent. When you look at the full body of work and what he has been able to get done over the last few years, nobody could have really anticipated that. It's no exact science. You never know. But with Grant, we knew he was a talent. We just didn't have a full awareness of where he would be at this point of his career in terms of all of the things he could accomplish. I know he can still get a lot more done in his senior year." – Coach Grant on recruiting Riller
"They are not too high. Last year was such a big treat for me. I am just ready to go home and play in front of them (my immediate family and close friends of the family) one more time. Hopefully, we will come out with the win. I'm a family man, so you won't see a lot of people from my entourage that's not family." – Senior guard Grant Riller on returning home to Orlando to play in front of his family and friends for the last time of his collegiate career
"We got our first road opportunity the other night versus Marshall. It was big that we got that W. It did a lot for our confidence. We know our defense can travel with us and that will be big for Saturday's game." – Riller on being able to get that first road win under their belt at Marshall on Tuesday night
Game #5
November 23, 2019 • 2:00 p.m. (ET)
Addition Financial Arena (10,000)
at Orlando, Fla.
Television: ESPN3
Radio: College of Charleston Radio Network (ESPN Radio 910 AM | 94.7 FM)
Series History: CofC Leads 12-5
Last Meeting: UCF def. CofC, 60-40, on Nov. 18, 2016 at ESPN Charleston Classic in Charleston, S.C.
Internet: Live Statistics at http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=277779
Live On-Demand Video: https://www.espn.com/watch
Twitter: @CofCBasketball
THE COACHES
College of Charleston: Earl Grant
Sixth Year at CofC: 104-66
Sixth Year Overall: 104-66
UCF: Johnny Dawkins
Fourth Year at UCF: 69-35
12th Year Overall: 225-150
TELEVISION (ESPN3)
Play-By-Play: Ari Shanok
Color Analyst: Mike O'Donnell
RADIO (College of Charleston Radio Network)
Play-By-Play: Everett German
GAME PREVIEW
UCF (2-1) is the next road test for the College of Charleston men's basketball team (3-1) in the midst of a five-game stretch away from the friendly confines of TD Arena. The Cougars will meet the Knights for the 18th time in the series on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. (ET) at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, Fla. The contest, which is a non-bracketed game of next week's Paycom Wooden Legacy tournament in Anaheim, Calif., will be televised nationally on ESPN3. It will be the second and last homecoming trip to the Orlando area for preseason Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year Grant Riller, who is currently the team's leading scorer averaging 21.8 points per game (No. 24 nationally) and starred at nearby Ocoee High School. On the other side of the ball, he also ranks No. 13 in the country in steals per game (3.50 avg.). Last year over the Thanksgiving holiday break, Riller was named to the AdvoCare Invitational All-Tournament Team after back-to-back 30-point outings in wins over UAB and Memphis in front of his hometown crowd. CofC shot its highest percentage of the season from the floor (48.4%) in a 76-66 road victory at Marshall on Nov. 19. The Cougars converted 30-of-62 field goals including 14-of-27 (51.9%) in the second half against the Thundering Herd. It also marked the second game of the season where they had four-or-more players contribute in the scoring column behind Riller's game-high 22 points.
A LOOK AT UCF
UCF is coming off an at-large NCAA Tournament berth a year ago (beat VCU in first round and lost to Duke in the second round), but has an entirely different roster with eight transfers and three freshmen newcomers. One familiar face is graduate senior guard Matt Milon, who previously played for league rival William & Mary. In both team's last meeting in the 2016 ESPN Charleston Classic semifinals, former UCF big man Tacko Fall was a sophomore and he is now currently playing in the NBA for the Boston Celtics. The Knights recently bounced back from a 79-70 loss to Miami (Fla.) on Nov. 12 with a close 67-65 road win at Illinois State on Nov. 17.
COUGARS ON THE AIRWAVES
Fans can listen to all CofC men's basketball games throughout the 2019-20 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 Addition Financial Arena.
PROJECTED COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON STARTERS
#10 Zep Jasper, G, 6-1, 175, So. (6.8 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.8 apg, 26.0 min)
#1 Grant Riller, G, 6-3, 190, Sr. (21.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.5 apg, 33.5 min)
#2 Brevin Galloway, G, 6-2, 215, Jr. (11.5 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.8 apg, 28.5 min)
#24 Jaylen McManus, F, 6-7, 230, Sr. (12.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 0.3 apg, 29.3 min)
#33 Osinachi Smart, C/F, 6-8, 240, Jr. (2.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 0.0 apg, 15.0 min)
PROJECTED UCF STARTERS
#12 Dazon Ingram, G, 6-6, 205, RS-Sr. (10.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.3 apg, 29.3 min)
#2 Matt Milon, G, 6-4, 210, RS-Sr. (2.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.3 apg, 20.0 min)
#20 Frank Bertz, G, 6-5, 180, Sr. (7.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.0 apg, 25.7 min)
#14 Ibrahim Famouke Doumbia, F, 6-7, 205, RS-So. (1.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.7 apg, 8.3 min)
#35 Collin Smith, F, 6-11, 240, RS-Jr. (13.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.0 apg, 28.7 min)
SERIES HISTORY
CofC leads 12-5 in the all-time series versus UCF including a 5-2 record on the road. Former members of the Trans America Athletic Conference (TAAC) in the early 90s, the Knights have won four of the last six meetings between the two schools. They last met in tournament settings in the ESPN Charleston Classic in 2016 and inaugural Battle 4 Atlantis in 2011. This will be the first road trip to Orlando for the Cougars since an 82-64 loss to UCF in TAAC play on Dec. 12, 2002.
LAST SIX GAMES IN SERIES
L, 40-60 on 11/18/16 in Charleston, S.C.
L, 63-74 on 11/24/11 in Paradise Island, Bahamas
W, 72-63 on 11/26/03 in Charleston, S.C.
L, 64-82 on 12/12/02 in Orlando, Fla.
W, 81-66 on 2/27/98 in Charleston, S.C.
L, 68-70 (OT) on 2/21/98 in Charleston, S.C.
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CHARITY
The Cougars are a team you don't want to send to the charity stripe. They have made 76.8 percent of their free throws this season (73-of-95) which currently ranks No. 39 among NCAA Division I statistical leaders. Three players are currently shooting over 80 percent on the season from the line – Grant Riller (87.9%), Zep Jasper (85.7%) and Jaylen McManus (80.0%). Between the Georgia State and Oklahoma State game Riller was a perfect 20-for-20 from the line until going 3-for-5 at Marshall.
MORE ON RILLER
A preseason Lute Olson Award and Lou Henson Award Watch List candidate, Grant Riller is also one of the Top 5 active career scoring leaders in the nation and No. 1 in the CAA with 1,883 career points to date. The fifth-year senior has recorded three 20-point performances in just the team's four games alone including a season-high 26 points against USC Upstate in the season opener.
NCAA DIVISION I ACTIVE CAREER SCORING LEADERS
1. Jermaine Marrow (Hampton) – 2,095 points
2. Markus Howard (Marquette) – 2,029 points
3. Charles Williams (Howard) – 1,901 points
4. Grant Riller (College of Charleston) – 1,883 points
5. Marcus Evans (VCU) – 1,850 points
MARSHALL RECAP
College of Charleston 76, Marshall 66
• College of Charleston started Zep Jasper, Grant Riller, Brevin Galloway, Jaylen McManus and Osinachi Smart (3-1).
• With the win, College of Charleston improves to 1-0 in the all-time series with Marshall. It was a first-time meeting between the two schools and Marshall will return the home-and-home series next season at TD Arena.
• Grant Riller extended his double-digit scoring streak to 32-consecutive games with a game-high 22 points at Marshall. He has now tabulated 1,883 career points to date.
• The Cougars tied their season high with nine steals against the Thundering Herd. They also forced them into 18 turnovers which resulted in 19 points.
• Jaylen McManus turned in his third-straight game in double digits with 12 points and a career-high nine rebounds at Marshall.
• Sam Miller recorded a season-high 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field at Marshall.
• Zep Jasper registered double figures in scoring for the seventh time of his career with 10 points versus the Thundering Herd.
• Brevin Galloway also added 12 points – his third double-figure game in the last four games for the Cougars.
• CofC improves to 37-14 all-time against opponents from Conference USA.
COUGAR SOUND BITES
"We just have to build on it. Certainly, we did some really good things on the road at Marshall. Defensively and offensively. We had five guys in double figures, so it was good to see so many guys contribute. Right now, we need to find a way to build on it. We need to make sure to take care of the ball. We need to make sure we take good shots, so we can get our defense set. We need to make sure we value the possession and continue to improve in our defensive rebounding. We've had two days to prepare and get better, so that's the most important thing for us right now." – CofC Head Coach Earl Grant on building on the Marshall road win heading into another difficult road game at UCF
"We've been trying to get him (Grant Riller) back home for about five years. It's been hard. It just happened to work out this year with Central Florida and both of our schedules. We will be going down there for a true road contest." – Coach Grant on finally being able to schedule a road game in Orlando for senior Grant Riller
"Obviously, recruiting is really important in sports and you've got to have good players. We knew he was a talent. When you look at the full body of work and what he has been able to get done over the last few years, nobody could have really anticipated that. It's no exact science. You never know. But with Grant, we knew he was a talent. We just didn't have a full awareness of where he would be at this point of his career in terms of all of the things he could accomplish. I know he can still get a lot more done in his senior year." – Coach Grant on recruiting Riller
"They are not too high. Last year was such a big treat for me. I am just ready to go home and play in front of them (my immediate family and close friends of the family) one more time. Hopefully, we will come out with the win. I'm a family man, so you won't see a lot of people from my entourage that's not family." – Senior guard Grant Riller on returning home to Orlando to play in front of his family and friends for the last time of his collegiate career
"We got our first road opportunity the other night versus Marshall. It was big that we got that W. It did a lot for our confidence. We know our defense can travel with us and that will be big for Saturday's game." – Riller on being able to get that first road win under their belt at Marshall on Tuesday night
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