NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – Jarrell Brantley posted another double-double performance with a game-high 18 points and 10 rebounds as third-seeded College of Charleston was edged by second-seeded Northeastern, 70-67, in the semifinals of the 2019 Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Championship held on Monday night at North Charleston Coliseum.
 
The Cougars (24-9) led for the majority of the first half until the Huskies (22-10) made a run to go into halftime with a 35-33 lead. Brantley scored eight of 18 points before the break.
 
Brevin Galloway and Zep Jasper made some key 3-pointers for Charleston down the stretch – both going 2-for-4 and 3-for-3 from long range. Galloway ended the night with 12 points, while Grant Riller hit double digits in the second half with 10.
 
CofC shot 50 percent from the field, 44.4 percent from long range and 77.8 percent from the free throw line, but Northeastern took advantage of a 35-to-24 rebounding margin, 14 second-chance points and 3-minute scoring drought for the Cougars at the end of the game to seal the victory.
 
It avenged the Huskies' loss to Charleston in last year's CAA championship game, which was won in overtime.
 
POSTGAME NOTES
• For the 18th time this season, College of Charleston went with the starting five including three seniors – Marquise Pointer, Grant Riller, Brevin Galloway, Jarrell Brantley and Nick Harris (11-7).
• The all-time series between College of Charleston and Northeastern is now tied at 7-7. The Cougars and Huskies met for the second-straight year in postseason play and are tied 1-1 in those CAA Tournament games. The last five games in the series have been decided in single digits.
• Jarrell Brantley recorded his 13th double-double of the season and 36th of his career with a game-high 18 points and 10 rebounds versus Northeastern. He surpassed former CofC great Greg Mack (1981-85) to move into third on the school's all-time career scoring list with 1,914 points.
• Brevin Galloway turned in his 13th game of the season in double figures with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field with two 3-pointers against Northeastern.
• Grant Riller extended his double-digit scoring streak to 28-straight games with 10 points, four rebounds and four assists versus the Huskies. He has now tabulated 1,796 career points to date.
• The Cougars drained eight 3-pointers in the ballgame behind a perfect 3-for-3 performance from Zep Jasper off the bench. They also got threes from Sam Miller, Jaylen McManus, Galloway and Brantley.
 
POSTGAME QUOTES
College of Charleston Head Coach Earl Grant
On the game …
"I really thought our guys played spirited and played with a lot of heart tonight. We just lost to a really good team. I have a lot of respect for (Northeastern Head Coach) Bill Coen. I've known him for 15 years when he was an assistant at Boston College. I had respect for him coming into this league. He challenges me as a coach. His guys did a great job of executing their game plan and they came out on top. We had our chances down the stretch and we came up a little bit short.  I'm really proud of our players and I'm happy for Bill Coen. He's done a great job with his program. From Day One since I got into this league, his teams have always been ready to play and I've learned a lot from him."
 
On what the seniors and Jarrell Brantley have meant to him and the program …
"They are just special. I live with these guys every day and I have three sons. They are guys who I want my sons to be like – high character, hard workers, good character and never had issues with them off the court. Their parents did a good job of raising them. The basketball part you can see it. Jarrell will go down as one of the best to ever play in a Cougar uniform. Grant, with a little bit more time, could do something that has never happened here. The basketball part is special. But, I think who they have been as people in the community and on our campus. The examples they have been. They mean the world to me and they have meant the world to this program. I hope our young guys see what they do day-in and day-out. It's hard to believe that I may never coach Jarrell again, but I'm excited that me and Grant still have more work to do."
 
College of Charleston Junior Guard Grant Riller
On Northeastern's defense …
"I think their (Northeastern) team is good defensively. He (Shawn Occeus) does a good job on the ball. But, you gotta give the rest of those guys credit and the rest of their defensive schemes."
 
College of Charleston Senior Forward Jarrell Brantley
On what could possibly be his last college game …
"I'm blessed. I don't want to say too much, because I don't want to get too emotional. It's been an amazing ride. I'm grateful. Our coaches have done a good job accepting me for who I am. I am probably one of the harder guys to deal with day-in and day-out. My spirit is well known. I am grateful is all I can say."
 
On the senior class' legacy …
"Beyond the winning and losing. I think we brought a spirit back to Charleston. I think as long as Coach Grant is here – that won't ever die. We love basketball and we talk about it everyday. It's all we want to do. It will stay like that for Charleston (for years to come)."