Friday, November 12
Charleston, S.C.
7:30 PM
College of Charleston
2-0,0-0CAA
86
vs
77
Lipscomb
1-1,0-0ASUN
1
2
F
Lipscomb
41
36
77
Col. of Charleston
46
40
86
Balanced Effort Lifts Cougars to 86-77 Win over Lipscomb
11/12/2021 10:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Meeks led four Cougars in double figures with 16
Charleston, S.C. -- Charleston Men's Basketball improved to 2-0 on the young season with an 86-77 win over Lipscomb on day two of the Rising Coaches Classic on Friday night at TD Arena. CofC is 2-0 to start the campaign for the third time in the last four years.
Charleston's tenacious defense turned it up a notch for the second consecutive day as the Cougars racked up 22 points off Lipscomb's turnovers and outrebounded the Bisons, 49-39. Senior John Meeks led four Cougars in double figures with 16 points and senior Dalton Bolon chipped in 15 points off the bench, including a key late three to stave off a Lipscomb run.
CofC trailed by as many as seven midway through the first half, 38-31. That's when freshman Babacar Faye turned the tide with an old-fashioned three-point play that keyed an 8-0 Charleston run to surge the Cougars back in front. Junior Brenden Tucker scored the final five points of the first half as CofC finished the first frame on a 15-3 run to take a 46-41 edge into halftime.
Head coach Pat Kelsey's squad pushed ahead by as many as 19, continuing its momentum early in the second half. Lipscomb responded and clawed back steadily down the stretch to get within one possession before clutch free throws and the trifecta from Bolon late allowed the Cougars to stretch the lead again. CofC would never trail in the second half en route to the 86-77 victory.
Key Cougars
Up Next
The Cougars continue the Rising Coaches Classic tomorrow night against Loyola (Maryland) at 5 p.m. at TD arena.
Charleston's tenacious defense turned it up a notch for the second consecutive day as the Cougars racked up 22 points off Lipscomb's turnovers and outrebounded the Bisons, 49-39. Senior John Meeks led four Cougars in double figures with 16 points and senior Dalton Bolon chipped in 15 points off the bench, including a key late three to stave off a Lipscomb run.
CofC trailed by as many as seven midway through the first half, 38-31. That's when freshman Babacar Faye turned the tide with an old-fashioned three-point play that keyed an 8-0 Charleston run to surge the Cougars back in front. Junior Brenden Tucker scored the final five points of the first half as CofC finished the first frame on a 15-3 run to take a 46-41 edge into halftime.
Head coach Pat Kelsey's squad pushed ahead by as many as 19, continuing its momentum early in the second half. Lipscomb responded and clawed back steadily down the stretch to get within one possession before clutch free throws and the trifecta from Bolon late allowed the Cougars to stretch the lead again. CofC would never trail in the second half en route to the 86-77 victory.
Key Cougars
- Senior John Meeks led the Cougars with 16 points and added three boards.
- Senior Osinachi Smart led the team in rebounds, snagging 11 in just 16 minutes of action.
- Sophomore Fah'mir Ali racked up six assists off the bench.
- Senior Dalton Bolon poured in 15 points, hitting three triples.
- Junior Brenden Tucker and senior Dimitrius Underwood added 13 points apiece.
- Senior John Meeks now has 31 career double-digit scoring games.
- Senior Osinachi Smart pulled in double-digit boards for the seventh time in his career.
- Sophomore Fah'mir Ali is just the fourth Cougar since the start of the 2019-20 season to dish at least six assists in a game, joining Zed Jasper, Grant Riller and Payton Willis.
Up Next
The Cougars continue the Rising Coaches Classic tomorrow night against Loyola (Maryland) at 5 p.m. at TD arena.
Team Stats
Lips
CC
FG%
.446
.367
3FG%
.417
.313
FT%
.680
.750
RB
39
49
TO
19
10
STL
1
9
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
C/F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG/F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballCharleston Women's Basketball Post Game Press Conference vs. Charleston Southern (11/7/25)
Friday, November 07
Cougars Uncaged Episode 2: Chad Traylor
Thursday, November 06
Charleston Men's Basketball Post Game Press Conference vs. Tusculum (11/3/25)
Tuesday, November 04
Charleston Women's Basketball Post Game Press Conference vs. Covenant (11/3/25)
Tuesday, November 04
