Richmond Final Non-Conference Road Trip For Cougars

Saturday, December 14

Richmond, Va.

5:00 PM

College of Charleston

Richmond

Richmond Final Non-Conference Road Trip For Cougars

12/13/2019 3:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Richmond Game Notes

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (5-4, 0-0 CAA) vs. RICHMOND (8-1, 0-0 A-10)
Game #10
December 14, 2019 • 5:00 p.m. (ET)
Robins Center (7,201)
at Richmond, Va.

Television: NBC Sports Network
Radio: College of Charleston Radio Network (ESPN Radio 910 AM | 94.7 FM)
Series History: Series Tied 2-2
Last Meeting: Richmond def. CofC, 74-72, on March 23, 2009 in CBI Quarterfinals in Richmond, Va.
Internet: Live Statistics at www.RichmondSpiders.com
Live On-Demand Video: https://www.nbcsports.com/live
Twitter: @CofCBasketball

THE COACHES
College of Charleston: Earl Grant
Sixth Year at CofC: 106-69
Sixth Year Overall: 106-69
Richmond: Chris Mooney
15th Year at Richmond: 250-215
16th Year Overall: 268-227

TELEVISION (NBC Sports Network)
Play-By-Play: Mike Corey
Color Analyst: Dr. John Giannini

RADIO (College of Charleston Radio Network)
Play-By-Play: Everett German

GAME PREVIEW
Richmond (8-1) will be the final non-conference road trip for the College of Charleston men's basketball team (5-4) as both teams square off for the first time in nearly a decade on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 5 p.m. (ET) in Richmond, Va. The game will be televised nationally on NBC Sports Network. With final exams completed, the Cougars have another big test ahead with back-to-back games against two tough Atlantic 10 Conference opponents in Richmond and then VCU on Dec. 18 at TD Arena. Last year, Charleston escaped the city of Richmond with an 83-79 road win on VCU's home court. This will be the Cougars' third-ever meeting with the Spiders at the Robins Center. Richmond is an undefeated 6-0 at home this season averaging 5,360 fans per game. CofC is coming off a 76-50 victory over NCAA Division II Coker on Dec. 8 behind a first career double-double performance from preseason Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year Grant Riller, who notched a game-high 23 points and career-high 10 rebounds versus the Cobras. The Charleston defense held Coker to an opponent season-low 50 points and 31.7 shooting from the field. The Spiders currently rank among the Top 50 teams in the nation in scoring offense (79.6 ppg) being held only to a season-low 62 points in their win over Wisconsin.

SCOUTING RICHMOND
For the second-straight week, the Spiders are receiving votes in The Associated Press Top 25 Poll after an 8-1 start to the season with signature non-conference wins over Vanderbilt (SEC), Wisconsin (Big Ten) and Boston College (ACC). Their only loss of the year was a 79-65 setback to then No. 18-ranked Auburn on Nov. 26 at the Roman Legends Classic in Brooklyn, N.Y. Richmond has a talented back court with all three starting guards averaging double figures in scoring including the team's leading scorer Blake Francis (18.0 ppg).

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 the Robins Center on the College of Charleston Radio Network.

PROJECTED COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON STARTERS
#10 Zep Jasper, G, 6-1, 175, So. (7.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 1.2 apg, 27.8 min)
#1 Grant Riller, G, 6-3, 190, Sr. (20.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.9 apg, 32.4 min)
#2 Brevin Galloway, G, 6-2, 215, Jr. (9.6 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.2 apg, 27.3 min)
#24 Jaylen McManus, F, 6-7, 230, Sr. (10.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 0.2 apg, 27.3 min)
#33 Osinachi Smart, C/F, 6-8, 240, Jr. (4.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 0.4 apg, 19.4 min)

PROJECTED RICHMOND STARTERS
#0 Jacob Gilyard, G, 5-9, 160, Jr. (17.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 6.3 apg, 36.0 min)
#1Blake Francis, G, 6-0, 176, RS-Jr. (18.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 3.1 apg, 31.7 min)
#5 Nick Sherod, G, 6-4, 230, RS-Jr. (15.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.1 apg, 32.8 min)
#4 Nathan Cayo, F, 6-7, 225, Jr. (9.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.1 apg, 25.3 min)
#33 Grant Golden, F, 6-10, 255, RS-Jr. (11.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.9 apg, 25.5 min)

SERIES HISTORY
The all-time series between College of Charleston and Richmond is tied 2-2. Both teams last met in the quarterfinals (L, 72-74) of the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) in 2009. The Cougars are 0-2 in the series when playing on the road at Richmond.

LAST FOUR GAMES IN THE SERIES
L, 72-74 on 3/23/09 in Richmond, Va.
W, 52-48 on 12/29/00 in Charlotte, N.C.
W, 67-58 on 12/30/95 in Charleston, S.C.
L, 54-85 on 1/14/91 in Richmond, Va.

WHAT 2 WATCH 4
Senior guard Grant Riller is 17 points away from recording his 2,000th career point at The College. He would become only the third player in school history to join the 2,000-Career Point Club and second in the program's NCAA Division I history (since 1991-92) next to former College of Charleston all-time greats Andrew Goudelock (2,571 from 2007-11) and Ken Gustafson (2,135 from 1971-75).

1. Andrew Goudelock (2007-11) – 2,571
2. Ken Gustafson (1971-75) – 2,135
3. Grant Riller (2016-Present) – 1,983
4. Jarrell Brantley (2015-19) – 1,914
5. Greg Mack (1981-85) – 1,901
6. Joe Chealey (2013-18) – 1,827
7. Sam Meade (1970-74) – 1,812
8. Thaddeous Delaney (1994-97) – 1,564
9. Dontaye Draper (2003-07) – 1,541
10. Jeff Bolton (1999-02) – 1,527

GET SMART
Redshirt junior combination forward/center Osinachi Smart has been a consistent force inside for the Cougars this season. In the team's last outing versus Coker, he nearly recorded his first career double-double with a career-high 10 points and nine boards. Last season, Smart played in only 13 games averaging 5.4 minutes of action per contest. With the graduation of 2019 NBA Draft Pick Jarrell Brantley (currently a two-way player for the Utah Jazz) and four-year starting big man Nick Harris, Smart is now averaging 19.4 minutes per game along with 4.7 points and 5.7 rebounds in his new role. His older brother, Ikenna, starred at Buffalo and Wake Forest.

"Osi has been making great strides (offensively and defensively). He is playing some of his best basketball, certainly, in some of our games this year. Particularly, Providence and Marshall with his size and presence." – Head Coach Earl Grant

HIGH SCHOOL ALL-STARS
You know you've made it when your high school pays homage to your career and accomplishments after your time there on the campus grounds. Grant Riller's high school jersey number was retired on Dec. 4 at Ocoee High School in his hometown of Orlando, Fla. He became the first athlete (male or female) in school history to have their jersey number retired. Head Coach Earl Grant, a native of nearby North Charleston, S.C., was also honored with his induction into the R.B. Stall High School Athletic Hall of Fame on Dec. 10. He was joined in the school's first induction class with CofC all-time career assists leader and NBA veteran Anthony Johnson ('97) and U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC).

COKER RECAP
College of Charleston 76, Coker 50
• For the ninth-straight game, College of Charleston started Zep Jasper, Grant Riller, Brevin Galloway, Jaylen McManus and Osinachi Smart (5-4).
• With the win, College of Charleston improves to 11-0 in the all-time series with Coker. It was the team's eighth win of the series at home.
• Grant Riller recorded his first career double-double with a game-high 23 points and career-high 10 rebounds against Coker. He shot 7-of-11 from the field and a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line. It was also only the fourth time of his career to lead the team in rebounding in a single game. Riller has now tabulated 1,983 career points to date and third all-time on the career scoring list.
• Jaylen McManus turned in his fifth game this season in double figures with 11 points versus Coker.
• Osinachi Smart registered a near double-double performance with a career-high 10 points and season-high nine rebounds in 32 minutes of action versus Coker.
• Zach Rabinowitz, a senior walk-on and former team manager, made his first career appearance and knocked down four points including his first career 3-pointer and going 1-for-2 from the free throw line against the Cobras.
• Trevon Reddish came off the bench and led the team in assists with a career-high four against Coker.
• The CofC defense held Coker to 18 second-half points – the lowest scoring production by an opponent this season in a half this season.
• The 26-point margin of victory was the largest of the season for the Cougars ahead of a 19-point win over USC Upstate in the team's season opener on Nov. 5.

COUGAR SOUND BITES
"Similar to what we've done in the past, we've tried to play two Atlantic 10 (Conference) teams every year. Obviously, when you play teams out of that league, it's a challenge. Richmond has a good team and a lot of guys coming back from last year with a couple of transfers. They are playing well right now and have found some rhythm." – CofC Head Coach Earl Grant on Richmond

"They have a good inside-and-outside punch. They shoot it well from the perimeter with their three guards (Gilyard, Francis and Sherod). On top of that, they have a big guy (Golden) underneath that they can throw it to. They depend on him to deliver plays and he's a great passer. Their three-point shooting is also one of the best things they do." – Coach Grant on the challenge Richmond presents to the Cougars on Saturday

"Anytime you can play in a hostile environment is good. We have been able to do that this year at Central Florida and Marshall. Both atmospheres were pretty good. We have seen what it's like with noise. We did it last year (at VCU and Oklahoma State). Richmond will probably have 7,000 fans on Saturday. It will be really loud and they are winning games. People are excited about their team. Certainly, that kind of environment will help us going into conference play." – Grant on playing on the road in another hostile atmosphere

"They (Richmond) are a very good team and are very skilled 1 through 5. They can run, can shoot, can dribble and can do everything. They will be a very tough team to play. Richmond will be a very hostile environment. They will come out and play hard. We know from the get-go, we will have to come out with high intensity." – Sophomore Guard Zep Jasper on Richmond

"There were some pretty tough teams out there. What we learned was that we had some adversity, but it's going to help us down the road. You will always have adversity in a season. But, when is it the best time to catch it? It challenged us, because it is non-conference. We want the toughest battle as we can get. It helps us in the long run to play good teams like those we have faced thus far." – Jasper on the team going 1-2 out in Anaheim and facing tough non-conference opponents