COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (22-8, 11-6 CAA) vs. UNCW (9-21, 5-12 CAA)
Game #31
March 2, 2019 • 4:00 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: CofC Leads 14-13
Last Meeting: CofC def. UNCW, 73-66, on Dec. 29, 2018 at Wilmington, N.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: 99-64
Fifth Year Overall: 99-64
UNCW: C.B. McGrath
Second Year at UNCW: 20-42
Second Year Overall: 20-42
 
TELEVISION (None)
 
RADIO (College of Charleston Radio Network)
Play-By-Play: Everett German
Color Analyst: Danny Johnson
 
GAME PREVIEW
While both programs have not seen each other since the Colonial Athletic Association season opener in December, there is no bad blood lost between the College of Charleston men's basketball team (22-8, 11-6 CAA) and UNCW (9-21, 5-12 CAA). Since the Cougars joined the league in 2013, the Seahawks have been a mainstay rival similar to the Southern Conference days of playing Davidson and Wofford. It would be apropos that the regular-season finale would come down to a CofC and UNCW showdown on the hardwood on Saturday, March 2 at 4 p.m. (ET) at TD Arena. Charleston has won eight of its last nine contests with two of its last three going into overtime. Meanwhile, all five of UNCW's last games in league play have been decided in single digits. The Cougars will celebrate Senior Day at TD Arena and would like to send off their senior class on a high note, before heading into the upcoming 2019 CAA Men's Basketball Championship on March 9-12 at the North Charleston Coliseum. Both teams enjoyed the bye week with no Thursday game to rest and regroup before taking on one of the most important stretches of the season. Senior forward Jarrell Brantley has been on a roll for CofC with three-consecutive double-double performances including a game-high 24 points and 12 rebounds in an 84-74 road victory at Elon on Feb. 23. Offensively, the Cougars have been clicking on all cylinders scoring 83-or-more points in their last five-game stretch, while shooting 50 percent from the field in five of their last six.
 
A LOOK AT UNCW
UNCW is one of only three league teams to knock off CAA-leader Hofstra this season next to Northeastern and JMU. The Seahawks stunned the Pride (87-79) on Feb. 16 at Trask Coliseum in Wilmington, N.C., but have dropped their last two road games in league play at Elon and William & Mary. They are paced by senior forward Devontae Cacok, who leads the nation in double-doubles with 21 on the year. He is averaging a team-best 14.9 points and 12.1 rebounds per game, which is also second-most in the country.
 
GAME PROMOTIONS
It's the annual White Out Game at TD Arena. Fans are encouraged to wear white and free white pom poms will be handed out at the game. Be sure to arrive early for the Senior Day ceremony that will take place prior to tipoff. Tickets are available for purchase by calling (843) 953-COFC or online at: www.CofCSports.com/tickets
 
2019 CAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Single-game tickets are on sale now for the 2019 Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Championship to be held on March 9-12 at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Cougars will be the No. 3 seed and play the No. 6 seed (TBD) in the quarterfinals on Sunday, March 10 at 8:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased through the North Charleston Coliseum Box Office or www.Ticketmaster.com.
 
CAA SCENARIOS
Hofstra, Northeastern and College of Charleston are locks for the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 seeds at next week's conference tournament. Depending on the results of Saturday's games around the league, the Cougars could play either Delaware, Drexel, James Madison or Towson in the quarterfinals. The No. 4 through No. 10 seeds are still to be decided.
 
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
#21 Marquise Pointer, G, 6-0, 210, Sr. (4.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.1 apg, 23.2 min)
#1 Grant Riller, G, 6-3, 190, Jr. (22.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.1 apg, 35.5 min)
#2 Brevin Galloway, G, 6-2, 215, So. (8.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.0 apg, 25.8 min)
#5 Jarrell Brantley, F, 6-7, 255, Sr. (19.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, 34.0 min)
#23 Nick Harris, F, 6-10, 270, Sr. (3.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 0.2 apg, 18.9 min)
 
PROJECTED UNCW STARTERS
#10 Kai Toews, G, 6-2, 180, Fr. (8.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 7.9 apg, 30.6 min)
#0 Ty Gadsden, G, 6-1, 165, So. (11.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.3 apg, 24.9 min)
#12 Jay Estime', G, 6-5, 190, So. (7.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.3 apg, 23.6 min)
#2 Jeantal Cylla, F, 6-7, 216, RS-Jr. (13.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 0.6 apg, 28.4 min)
#15 Devontae Cacok, F, 6-7, 240, Sr. (14.9 ppg, 12.1 rpg, 0.7 apg, 28.6 min)
 
SENIOR TRIBUTE
The 2019 Senior Class was one of head coach Earl Grant's first recruiting classes at The College. Since Nick Harris, Jarrell Brantley, Marquise Pointer and Jermaine Blackmon's arrival on campus, the Cougars have recorded back-to-back-to-back 20-win campaigns and amassed 90 wins including notable non-conference victories over Davidson, LSU, Rhode Island, Memphis and VCU. They also reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 19 years in 2018 and earned a bid to the Postseason NIT in 2017.
 
GOING FOR 100
Head Coach Earl Grant, who is in his fifth season, is one win away from his 100th career coaching victory with a 99-64 overall record (.607) at College of Charleston. Next to legendary Head Coach John Kresse, he is the only other coach in program history to lead the Cougars to the NCAA Tournament. He currently ranks fourth among all-time CofC head coaches in career wins behind Kresse (560), Alan LeForce (131) and Bobby Cremins (125).
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
College of Charleston holds a one-game lead in the all-time series with UNCW, 14-13. The Cougars extended their win streak to three games in the series with a 73-66 road victory on Dec. 29, 2018 in Wilmington, N.C. Last year, they swept the Seahawks for the first time since joining the Colonial Athletic Association in July of 2013 and will be looking to close out the regular-season series in the same fashion once again. CofC is 2-3 all-time when playing UNCW as members of the CAA at TD Arena.
 
LAST 17 GAMES IN THE SERIES
W, 73-66 on 12/29/18 at Wilmington, N.C.
W, 88-74 on 2/17/18 at Wilmington, N.C.
W, 80-76 on 1/18/18 at Charleston, S.C.
L, 78-69 on 3/6/17 at North Charleston, S.C.^
W, 67-66 on 2/2/17 at Wilmington, N.C.
L, 59-65 on 1/19/17 at Charleston, S.C.
L, 64-66 on 3/5/16 at Baltimore, Md.^
L, 55-59 (OT) on 2/20/16 at Charleston, S.C.
L, 55-65 on 1/30/16 at Wilmington, N.C.
L, 53-79 on 3/7/15 at Baltimore, Md.^
L, 45-58 on 2/11/15 at Wilmington, N.C.
L, 56-58 (OT) on 1/21/15 at Charleston, S.C.
L, 55-57 (2OT) on 2/22/14 at Wilmington, N.C.
W, 75-70 on 1/22/14 at Charleston, S.C.
W, 100-80 on 12/19/08 at Charleston, S.C.
L, 91-98 on 11/10/07 at Wilmington, N.C.
W, 91-70 on 11/26/06 at Charleston, S.C.
^ CAA Tournament
 
ELON RECAP
College of Charleston 84, Elon 74
• College of Charleston went with the starting five of Marquise Pointer, Grant Riller, Brevin Galloway, Jarrell Brantley and Nick Harris for the 16th time this season (10-6).
• With the win, College of Charleston moves to 21-7 all-time in the series with former Southern Conference rival Elon. The Cougars also claimed their first win in the series playing in the Phoenix's new home venue – the Schar Center.
• Jarrell Brantley recorded his third-consecutive double-double performance with game-high 24 points and 12 rebounds at Elon. It marked his 11th double-double of the season and 34th of his career. He has now tallied 1,857 career points and 940 career rebounds to date which ranks fourth and fifth respectively in the school record books.
• Grant Riller extended his double-digit scoring streak to 25-straight games with 18 points and a team-high six assists against Elon. He has now tabulated 1,740 career points to date which ranks seventh all-time.
• Nick Harris grabbed four rebounds against the Phoenix to move into the Top 15 all-time in career rebounding with 655 boards to date. He surpassed former big man Trent Wiedeman (2010-13) on the list.
• The Cougars dished out a conference-season high 17 assists versus the Phoenix which was the second-most this season behind 19 assists against Georgia College on Dec. 9.
• For the sixth time this season, CofC drained 10-or-more 3-pointers in a single game going 10-for-22 at Elon.
• The Cougars shot 56.9 percent from the floor (29-of-51) against the Phoenix which was their third-best shooting percentage in a game this season.
 
COUGAR SOUND BITES
"(Devontae) Cacok has been around for some years and is one of the better big guys in the league. He is physical and can score around the basket when he has good position. It's going to be a challenge. We have to be prepared for that challenge and try to execute our game plan. It will take a lot of hard work to slow him down. They (UNCW) play fast and are a good team. They get up-and-down the court. They really try to transition on makes and misses. They have guys around the perimeter who play with confidence. We have to try to do what we do well – get back in transition D, contest their threes and know the challenge Cacok presents underneath the basket." – CofC Head Coach Earl Grant on what kind of challenge UNCW presents on Saturday
 
"They are a really good team and they have always fought us hard since my freshman year. We have to come out and get the job done. Play together and stay together. We just have to stay locked in for 40 minutes and keep fighting as a team." – Senior Forward Jarrell Brantley on UNCW
 
"Over the last four years, they have been our rivals. We played them in the championship game two years ago. It's always a battle when we play them. It would mean a lot to get the W here in our last home game at TD Arena." – Senior Forward Nick Harris on the rivalry that has developed with UNCW since joining the CAA and playing the Seahawks on Senior Day
 
"Our anticipation right now, we are all ready for the tournament. We are ready to get after it and get going. But, we do have to take it one game at a time which is the last one on Saturday. Hopefully, we can send off the seniors with a win in our last home game of our careers. I'm sure we will have a great environment and just try to enjoy the moment while we are out there." – Senior Point Guard Marquise Pointer on not looking to far ahead to the CAA Tournament with one important game still remaining against UNCW