Cougars Host No. 25 VCU As Part Of Final Two-Game Non-Conference Homestand at TD Arena

Wednesday, December 18

TD Arena

7:00 PM

College of Charleston

VCU

Tickets

Cougars Host No. 25 VCU As Part Of Final Two-Game Non-Conference Homestand at TD Arena

12/17/2019 7:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball

VCU Game Notes

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (5-5, 0-0 CAA) vs. RV/#25 VCU (8-2, 0-0 A-10)
Game #11
December 18, 2019 • 7:00 p.m. (ET)
TD Arena/John Kresse Court (5,100)
at Charleston, S.C.

Television: FloSports
Radio: College of Charleston Radio Network (ESPN Radio 910 AM | 94.7 FM)
Series History: VCU Leads 4-2
Last Meeting: CofC def. VCU, 83-79, on Dec. 15, 2018 in Richmond, Va.
Internet: Live Statistics at www.CofCStats.com
Live On-Demand Video: FloSports Subscription at http://bit.ly/2JP6sGV
Tickets: www.CofCSports.com/tickets
Twitter: @CofCBasketball

THE COACHES
College of Charleston: Earl Grant
Sixth Year at CofC: 106-70
Sixth Year Overall: 106-70
VCU: Mike Rhoades
Third Year at VCU: 51-25
16th Year Overall: 295-153

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

GAME PREVIEW
The College of Charleston men's basketball team (5-5) hosts No. 25-ranked VCU (8-2) as part of a final two-game non-conference homestand this week at TD Arena. The much-anticipated rematch between the Cougars and Rams is slated for Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. (ET) at TD Arena. This will be the third time in the history of TD Arena to host a ranked opponent on the Cougars' home court since the venue's grand opening in 2008. The last ranked team to play on John Kresse Court was No. 5 Louisville in December of 2012, and of course the most memorable, No. 9 North Carolina, in an 82-79 overtime thriller that went in favor of Charleston in January of 2010. Aside from the Wooden Legacy tournament in California over the Thanksgiving break, this is arguably the toughest stretch of games for the Cougars with back-to-back contests home and away against two Atlantic 10 powers in Richmond and VCU. The Rams will be seeking revenge after CofC shot 51.0 percent from the field and preseason Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year Grant Riller poured in a game-high 30 points to lead the Cougars to victory in last year's meeting at the Siegel Center. This is only the second trip for VCU to the Lowcountry next to an 85-75 win for the home team on Feb. 19, 2005 at the old John Kresse Arena.

A LOOK AT VCU
After being ranked as high as No. 19 earlier this year after an 84-82 win over then No. 23-ranked LSU on Nov. 13, VCU reentered the national scene at No. 25 in this week's USA TODAY/Coaches Poll. They are also receiving votes in The Associated Press Top 25 Poll. The Rams return four starters from last year's NCAA Tournament squad (lost to UCF in the NCAA First Round) including the team's leading scorer and rebounder Marcus Santos-Silva, who is currently averaging 13.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. VCU was picked as the preseason favorite to win the Atlantic 10 Conference with 19 first-place votes.

GAME PROMOTIONS
Fans will be entertained at halftime with a special performance by local Charleston breakdancer Kyle K'otic. Tickets are still available for purchase online at: www.CofCSports.com/tickets

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 TD Arena along with color analyst Danny Johnson on the College of Charleston Radio Network.

PROJECTED COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON STARTERS
#10 Zep Jasper, G, 6-1, 175, So. (6.9 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 1.1 apg, 28.0 min)
#1 Grant Riller, G, 6-3, 190, Sr. (20.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.8 apg, 32.5 min)
#2 Brevin Galloway, G, 6-2, 215, Jr. (10.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.2 apg, 27.7 min)
#24 Jaylen McManus, F, 6-7, 230, Sr. (9.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 0.3 apg, 27.9 min)
#33 Osinachi Smart, C/F, 6-8, 240, Jr. (4.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 0.4 apg, 18.7 min)

PROJECTED VCU STARTERS
#2 Marcus Evans, G, 6-2, 190, RS-Sr. (11.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 2.5 apg, 23.7 min)
#0 De'Riante Jenkins, G, 6-5, 190, Sr. (9.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.8 apg, 25.2 min)
#23 Issac Vann, G/F, 6-6, 200, RS-Sr. (7.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.9 apg, 23.0 min)
#1 Mike'L Simms, F, 6-5, 210, Sr. (7.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.1 apg, 22.8 min)
#14 Marcus Santos-Silva, F, 6-7, 250, Jr. (13.2 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.3 apg, 25.9 min)

SERIES NOTES
VCU leads 4-2 in the all-time series with College of Charleston. Last year, the Cougars ended the Rams' three-game win streak in the series with a signature 83-79 road victory behind Riller and a 26-point and 17-rebound double-double performance from 2019 NBA Draft Pick Jarrell Brantley, who is currently a two-way player with the Utah Jazz, on Dec. 15, 2018 in Richmond, Va. It marked the team's first win at VCU in four tries.

LAST SIX GAMES IN THE SERIES
W, 83-79 (+4) on Dec. 15, 2018 in Richmond, Va.
L, 86-93 (-7) on March 22, 2010 in Richmond, Va.
L, 59-71 (-12) on Nov. 18, 2006 in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
L, 71-76 (-5) on Dec. 17, 2005 in Richmond, Va.
W, 85-75 (+10) on Feb. 19, 2005 in Charleston, S.C.
L, 83-142 (-59) on Nov. 28, 1969 in Richmond, Va.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
The Cougars' 5-5 (.500) record is indicative of the level of competition the team has faced in non-conference play. They currently boast the nation's 51st strongest schedule having played seven of the Top 150 teams on eight occasions this season, according to the first NCAA NET Rankings released on Dec. 15. Year-in and year-out, Charleston puts together a very competitive schedule to prepare itself for its CAA slate. Of its first 10 opponents, Richmond is the highest-rated team (No. 22) followed by Oklahoma State (No. 41), VCU (No. 52), Wake Forest (No. 103), UCF (No. 109), Georgia State (No. 119) and Providence (No. 146).

STEPPING UP
Senior forward Sam Miller has come off the bench in nine of the Cougars' 10 games this season averaging 22.0 minutes of action. Last year, Miller's first game in a CofC uniform, was at VCU as he became eligible after a transfer year from Dayton. He is currently the team's leading rebounder bringing down 6.4 boards per game. Miller drained a trio of three-pointers to keep the Cougars in the game at Richmond on Dec. 14, while also resetting his career high in points with 16.

"What he can do is very unique for his size, especially anytime you have someone, who is 6-foot-10, that can make threes, that can pass the way he passes and has great hands around the basket. His production has been good for us." – Head Coach Earl Grant

COUGARS AGAINST NATIONALLY-RANKED COMPETITION
The Cougars are 6-24 all-time when playing Top 25 nationally-ranked opponents. Of their six all-time Top 25 victories, three have come against Top 10 competition including an upset of No. 3 North Carolina, 66-64, on Dec. 5, 1998 in Charlotte, N.C.

COFC ALL-TIME vs. TOP 25 OPPONENTS (6-24)
No. 20 Georgia Tech 77, College of Charleston 70 on Jan. 28, 1992 in Atlanta, Ga.
College of Charleston 84, No. 8 Georgia Tech 67 on Jan. 16, 1993 in Atlanta, Ga.
No. 21 Wake Forest 74, College of Charleston 64 on Dec. 17, 1994 in Winston-Salem, N.C.
No. 25 Syracuse 72, College of Charleston 61 on Dec. 16, 1995 in Syracuse, N.Y.
No. 7 Connecticut 77, College of Charleston 60 on Dec. 27, 1995 in North Charleston, S.C.
College of Charleston 82, No. 21 Stanford 78 on Dec. 29, 1996 in Anchorage, Alaska
No. 8 Kentucky 92, College of Charleston 65 on Nov. 30, 1996 in Anchorage, Alaska
College of Charleston 75, No. 22 Maryland 66 on March 13, 1997 in Memphis, Tenn.
No. 15 Arizona 73, College of Charleston 69 on March 15, 1997 in Memphis, Tenn.
No. 11 Stanford 67, College of Charleston 57 on March 13, 1998 in Chicago, Ill.
College of Charleston 66, No. 3 North Carolina 64 on Dec. 5, 1998 in Charlotte, N.C.
No. 2 North Carolina 72, College of Charleston 54 on Dec. 3, 1999 in Charlotte, N.C.
No. 14 North Carolina 64, College of Charleston 60 on Dec. 30, 2000 in Charlotte, N.C.
No. 15 Wisconsin 75, College of Charleston 49 on Jan. 3, 2004 in Madison, Wis.
No. 10 Louisville 78, College of Charleston 63 on Dec. 21, 2005 in Louisville, Ky.
No. 18 Arkansas 75, College of Charleston 49 on Nov. 18, 2007 in San Juan, Puerto Rico
No. 3 North Carolina 108, College of Charleston 70 on Jan. 7, 2009 in Chapel Hill, N.C.
No. 9 Tennessee 86, College of Charleston 69 on Nov. 27, 2009 in Knoxville, Tenn.
College of Charleston 82, No. 9 North Carolina 79 (OT) on Jan. 4, 2010 in Charleston, S.C.
No. 25 North Carolina 74, College of Charleston 69 on Nov. 28, 2010 in Chapel Hill, N.C.
No. 4 Louisville 69, College of Charleston 62 on Dec. 20, 2011 in Louisville, Ky.
College of Charleston 63, No. 21 Baylor 59 on Nov. 24, 2012 in Waco, Texas
No. 5 Louisville 80, College of Charleston 38 on Dec. 4, 2012 in Charleston, S.C.
No. 3 Louisville 70, College of Charleston 48 on Nov. 9, 2013 in Louisville, Ky.
No. 17 Connecticut 65, College of Charleston 57 on Nov. 20, 2014 in San Juan, Puerto Rico
No. 21 West Virginia 86, College of Charleston 57 on Nov. 29, 2014 in Morgantown, W. Va.
No. 15 Miami 85, College of Charleston 63 on Dec. 19, 2015 in Coral Gables, Fla.
No. 2 Villanova 63, College of Charleston 67 on Nov. 23, 2016 in Villanova, Pa.
No. 6 Wichita State 81, College of Charleston 63 on Nov. 13, 2017 in Wichita, Kan.
No. 19 LSU 67, College of Charleston 55 on Nov. 22, 2018 in Orlando, Fla.

RICHMOND RECAP
Richmond 78, College of Charleston 71
• For the 10th time this season, College of Charleston went with the starting five of Zep Jasper, Grant Riller, Brevin Galloway, Jaylen McManus and Osinachi Smart (5-5).
• Richmond takes a one-game, 3-2 lead in the all-time series with College of Charleston. The Spiders remain an undefeated 3-0 in the series when playing at home.
• Grant Riller recorded 21 points against Richmond and became only the third player in program history to join the 2,000-Career Point Club next to CofC all-time greats Andrew Goudelock (2007-11) and Ken Gustafson (1971-75). It marked his seventh 20-point game of the season extending his double-digit scoring streak to 38-conseutive games. He has now tabulated 2,004 career points to date and still ranks third in career scoring behind Goudelock and Gustafson.
• Brevin Galloway registered a career-high 22 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field at Richmond. He also brought down a season-high five rebounds and career-best five steals. It marked his sixth double-figure scoring game of the season and 19th of his career.
• Sam Miller came off the bench and turned in a career-high 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field and tied a career-high with three 3-pointers in a single game against Richmond.

COUGAR SOUND BITES
"Obviously, we thought we would be a little bit better than 5-5. We had our opportunities to win some close games against some good teams. But, we knew it would be a challenge. I told the guys we have to weather the storm, because there would be some opportunities for us to have big wins. But, the teams we were playing were very capable and we had to play well to win them. We wish we could have won a game or two more. But, we can learn from some of the defeats, and hopefully, it will help us as we go through the season." – CofC Head Coach Earl Grant on the Cougars' results at this point in the season

"We talk about playing harmonious basketball and being in concert with each other. Everybody has a role. We have to trust each other and move the ball. We have to let everyone play to their strengths." – Coach Grant on different members of the team playing different roles every week

"They (VCU) have a good team. It's the next opponent on our schedule. It's one of the really good teams we play. We have played many of them. We have been in some challenges this year versus teams with size and shooting ability. They have an unbelievable big guy in (Marcus) Santos-Silva under the basket. They have multiple guards that are capable and we matchup with them well. More than VCU, I'm worried more about us playing with the energy and toughness we are capable of. We are back at home for the rest of this non-conference. If we are playing at the level that we can play at, it doesn't matter who the opponent is." – Grant on VCU

"It was a tough game last year. We had a different roster. They kind of have the same roster. It will be a whole new game and in a whole new environment. It's good that they get to come here and we get to play at home in front of our fans. We are looking forward to having a good game." – Senior Guard Grant Riller on the rematch with VCU

"Coming into the game, it will be a tough one. We have to be locked in from the jump. They (VCU) are a very tough team. They play very great defense. They pressure the ball. They press you all game, 40 minutes, so it's going to be a tough one. We have to be sure to take care of the ball and take good shots." – Sophomore Guard Zep Jasper on the Round 2 meeting with VCU

"At Richmond, we learned we have to stay poised. Teams will keep coming at us. Each play is important." – Jasper on what the team learned at Richmond