Saturday, December 5
TD Arena
2:00 PM
College of Charleston
vs
Furman
Old Rivalry Renewed As Cougars Take On Paladins In Saturday Matinee
12/4/2020 6:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (1-1, 0-0 CAA) vs. FURMAN (3-0, 0-0 SoCon)
Game #3
December 5, 2020 • 2:00 p.m. (ET)
TD Arena/John Kresse Court (5,100)
at Charleston, S.C.
Television: FloSports
Radio: College of Charleston Radio Network (The Zone 94.7 FM | 910 AM)
Series History: CofC Leads 42-41
Last Meeting: CofC def. Furman, 75-40, on Nov. 14, 2014 in Greenville, S.C.
Internet: Live Statistics at www.CofCStats.com
Live On-Demand Video: FloSports Subscription at https://bit.ly/2ZN9NQq
Tickets: www.CofCSports.com/tickets
Digital Game Program: www.CofCSports.com/publications
Twitter: @CofCBasketball
THE COACHES
College of Charleston: Earl Grant
Seventh Year at CofC: 119-80
Seventh Year Overall: 119-80
Furman: Bob Richey
Fourth Year at Furman: 76-26
Fourth Year Overall: 76-26
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 (1-1) continues its five-game homestand, but with a different opponent on this week's schedule at TD Arena. An old rivalry has been renewed as CofC now takes on former Southern Conference rival Furman on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. (ET) at TD Arena. Due to No. 19-ranked Richmond pausing team activities due to COVID-19 testing and contact tracing, the Cougars and Paladins were forced to find another opponent to fill their Dec. 2 and Dec. 5 games respectively with the Spiders. Charleston became members of the Colonial Athletic Association in July 2013 and is coming off a 99-59 victory over NCAA Division II Limestone on Nov. 28. Ten of the 11 players who checked into the ballgame against the Saints contributed in the scoring column including a career-and game-high 21 points from junior guard Zep Jasper, who shot the lights out from beyond the arc (5-for-9). Meanwhile, the Paladins are currently ranked No. 2 behind Gonzaga in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll. They were picked to win the Southern Conference in the league's preseason media poll, but second in the coaches poll.
SCOUTING FURMAN
Furman is coming off back-to-back 25-win seasons under Head Coach Bob Richey, who formerly was an assistant coaching on staff when the Cougars played the Paladins last. Three of the team's returning starters, Mike Bothwell (20.3 ppg), Noah Gurley (9.3 ppg) and Clay Mounce (14.3 ppg), were tabbed to the preseason All-SoCon Team. Furman is 3-0 on the year with season-opening wins over Tusculum (95-62), USC Upstate (91-63) and Southern Wesleyan (89-49).
COUGARS ON THE AIRWAVES
Fans can listen to all CofC men's basketball games throughout the 2020-21 season on The Zone 94.7 FM and ESPN Radio 910 AM 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 alongside color analyst Danny Johnson on the College of Charleston Radio Network.
PROJECTED COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON STARTERS
#12 Zep Jasper, G, 6-1, 170, Jr. (15.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.5 apg, 23.3 min)
#0 Payton Willis, G, 6-4, 190, Gr.-Sr. (14.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 27.7 min)
#55 Brevin Galloway, G, 6-2, 220, Gr.-Sr. (15.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 27.2 min)
#21 Lorenzo Edwards, F, 6-8, 215, Sr. (4.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 21.5 min)
#33 Osinachi Smart, C/F, 6-8, 240, Sr. (5.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.0 apg, 26.7 min)
PROJECTED FURMAN STARTERS
#10 Alex Hunter, G, 5-11, 180, Sr. (12.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.7 apg, 28.0 min)
#3 Mike Bothwell, G, 6-3, 195, Jr. (20.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.3 apg, 28.3 min)
#20 Jalen Slawson, F, 6-7, 218, Jr. (10.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.7 apg, 25.3 min)
#45 Clay Mounce, F, 6-7, 210, Sr. (14.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, 26.0 min)
#4 Noah Gurley, F, 6-8, 210, Jr. (9.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, 24.7 min)
SERIES HISTORY
College of Charleston leads 42-41 in the all-time series with Furman. Both teams last met during the 2014-15 season as Head Coach Earl Grant claimed his first career victory at The College (W, 75-40) on the road in Greenville, S.C. CofC has won the last four meetings between the two Palmetto State schools.
LAST FIVE GAMES IN THE SERIES
W, 75-40 on 11/14/14 in Greenville, S.C.
W, 89-55 on 11/23/13 in Charleston, S.C.
W, 74-50 on 3/2/13 in Greenville, S.C.
W, 60-56 on 1/5/13 in Charleston, S.C.
L, 63-69 on 1/26/12 in Charleston, S.C.
COUGAR SOUND BITES
"Obviously, it was a different kind of week in terms of having a game scheduled (against Richmond) and then the game was cancelled. It happened to work out that both of us needed a game. Certainly, our team needs to be tested. We have a quality opponent coming in. Very impressed with their team and how they run their program. It presents a great opportunity for us and our guys are ready for a good test." – CofC Head Coach Earl Grant on adapting to the change in the team's schedule this week from Richmond to Furman
"They (Furman) are a great matchup. They do a lot of things well. At this time of the year, we need to see where we are. I think our guys will be fired up. Rebounding is one thing they do really well. I am excited for the challenge and happy we were able to schedule the game." – Coach Grant on the matchup with Furman
"It was super exciting. Of course, it's not the atmosphere I've seen on prior films with a packed arena. It was great to let go of the jitters of playing in front of the home crowd for the first time." – Graduate Senior Guard Payton Willis on suiting up for his first home game at TD Arena against Limestone on November 28
"Our team chemistry is a lot higher than what we expected it to be, just because we didn't have any exhibition games or scrimmages. Just team practices against each other. We still have some work to do. It's above average so far. We are playing pretty well together right now." – Willis on the team's chemistry two games into the season with a mix of returners and newcomers
Game #3
December 5, 2020 • 2:00 p.m. (ET)
TD Arena/John Kresse Court (5,100)
at Charleston, S.C.
Television: FloSports
Radio: College of Charleston Radio Network (The Zone 94.7 FM | 910 AM)
Series History: CofC Leads 42-41
Last Meeting: CofC def. Furman, 75-40, on Nov. 14, 2014 in Greenville, S.C.
Internet: Live Statistics at www.CofCStats.com
Live On-Demand Video: FloSports Subscription at https://bit.ly/2ZN9NQq
Tickets: www.CofCSports.com/tickets
Digital Game Program: www.CofCSports.com/publications
Twitter: @CofCBasketball
THE COACHES
College of Charleston: Earl Grant
Seventh Year at CofC: 119-80
Seventh Year Overall: 119-80
Furman: Bob Richey
Fourth Year at Furman: 76-26
Fourth Year Overall: 76-26
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 (1-1) continues its five-game homestand, but with a different opponent on this week's schedule at TD Arena. An old rivalry has been renewed as CofC now takes on former Southern Conference rival Furman on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. (ET) at TD Arena. Due to No. 19-ranked Richmond pausing team activities due to COVID-19 testing and contact tracing, the Cougars and Paladins were forced to find another opponent to fill their Dec. 2 and Dec. 5 games respectively with the Spiders. Charleston became members of the Colonial Athletic Association in July 2013 and is coming off a 99-59 victory over NCAA Division II Limestone on Nov. 28. Ten of the 11 players who checked into the ballgame against the Saints contributed in the scoring column including a career-and game-high 21 points from junior guard Zep Jasper, who shot the lights out from beyond the arc (5-for-9). Meanwhile, the Paladins are currently ranked No. 2 behind Gonzaga in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll. They were picked to win the Southern Conference in the league's preseason media poll, but second in the coaches poll.
SCOUTING FURMAN
Furman is coming off back-to-back 25-win seasons under Head Coach Bob Richey, who formerly was an assistant coaching on staff when the Cougars played the Paladins last. Three of the team's returning starters, Mike Bothwell (20.3 ppg), Noah Gurley (9.3 ppg) and Clay Mounce (14.3 ppg), were tabbed to the preseason All-SoCon Team. Furman is 3-0 on the year with season-opening wins over Tusculum (95-62), USC Upstate (91-63) and Southern Wesleyan (89-49).
COUGARS ON THE AIRWAVES
Fans can listen to all CofC men's basketball games throughout the 2020-21 season on The Zone 94.7 FM and ESPN Radio 910 AM 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 alongside color analyst Danny Johnson on the College of Charleston Radio Network.
PROJECTED COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON STARTERS
#12 Zep Jasper, G, 6-1, 170, Jr. (15.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.5 apg, 23.3 min)
#0 Payton Willis, G, 6-4, 190, Gr.-Sr. (14.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 27.7 min)
#55 Brevin Galloway, G, 6-2, 220, Gr.-Sr. (15.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 27.2 min)
#21 Lorenzo Edwards, F, 6-8, 215, Sr. (4.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 21.5 min)
#33 Osinachi Smart, C/F, 6-8, 240, Sr. (5.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.0 apg, 26.7 min)
PROJECTED FURMAN STARTERS
#10 Alex Hunter, G, 5-11, 180, Sr. (12.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.7 apg, 28.0 min)
#3 Mike Bothwell, G, 6-3, 195, Jr. (20.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.3 apg, 28.3 min)
#20 Jalen Slawson, F, 6-7, 218, Jr. (10.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.7 apg, 25.3 min)
#45 Clay Mounce, F, 6-7, 210, Sr. (14.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, 26.0 min)
#4 Noah Gurley, F, 6-8, 210, Jr. (9.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, 24.7 min)
SERIES HISTORY
College of Charleston leads 42-41 in the all-time series with Furman. Both teams last met during the 2014-15 season as Head Coach Earl Grant claimed his first career victory at The College (W, 75-40) on the road in Greenville, S.C. CofC has won the last four meetings between the two Palmetto State schools.
LAST FIVE GAMES IN THE SERIES
W, 75-40 on 11/14/14 in Greenville, S.C.
W, 89-55 on 11/23/13 in Charleston, S.C.
W, 74-50 on 3/2/13 in Greenville, S.C.
W, 60-56 on 1/5/13 in Charleston, S.C.
L, 63-69 on 1/26/12 in Charleston, S.C.
COUGAR SOUND BITES
"Obviously, it was a different kind of week in terms of having a game scheduled (against Richmond) and then the game was cancelled. It happened to work out that both of us needed a game. Certainly, our team needs to be tested. We have a quality opponent coming in. Very impressed with their team and how they run their program. It presents a great opportunity for us and our guys are ready for a good test." – CofC Head Coach Earl Grant on adapting to the change in the team's schedule this week from Richmond to Furman
"They (Furman) are a great matchup. They do a lot of things well. At this time of the year, we need to see where we are. I think our guys will be fired up. Rebounding is one thing they do really well. I am excited for the challenge and happy we were able to schedule the game." – Coach Grant on the matchup with Furman
"It was super exciting. Of course, it's not the atmosphere I've seen on prior films with a packed arena. It was great to let go of the jitters of playing in front of the home crowd for the first time." – Graduate Senior Guard Payton Willis on suiting up for his first home game at TD Arena against Limestone on November 28
"Our team chemistry is a lot higher than what we expected it to be, just because we didn't have any exhibition games or scrimmages. Just team practices against each other. We still have some work to do. It's above average so far. We are playing pretty well together right now." – Willis on the team's chemistry two games into the season with a mix of returners and newcomers
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
C/F
/ Men's Basketball
G
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