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Charleston Basketball Set to Take on No. 19 North Carolina in Front of Sellout Crowd at TD Arena

Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network

11/15/2021 1:26:00 PM

CHARLESTON, S.C. - After starting the season 3-0 and capturing the Rising Coaches Classic championship, Charleston Basketball hosts No. 19 North Carolina on Tuesday night in front of a sellout crowd at TD Arena. The high-octane battle with the Tar Heels is getting national television attention as tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network with Rich Waltz, Steve Lappas and Gary Parrish on the call.  Fans can also listen live on the Charleston Sports Radio Network (94.7 FM & 910 AM).

 
STORYLINES
  • CofC welcomes North Carolina to TD Arena for the second time in program history. The Cougars knocked off UNC 82-79 in over time in the lone other meeting in Charleston on Jan. 4, 2010. 
  • CofC is 3-5 all-time vs. the Tar Heels with the other victories coming in Charlotte on a neutral floor on Dec. 5, 1998 (66-64) and Dec. 21, 2001 (66-60). 
  • North Carolina is the first Power 5 school CofC has hosted at TD Arena since Oklahoma State visited on Nov. 13, 2019 and the first AP Top-20 team since Ben Simmons and No. 19 LSU came to TD on Nov. 22, 2018. 
  • Charleston has six wins over nationally-ranked opponents since becoming a Division I program, with two of those coming against then-No. 9 UNC in 2010 and then-No. 3 UNC in 1998. The Cougars' last ranked win came at No. 21 Baylor on Nov. 24, 2012 (63-5). CofC is 6-26 against ranked opponents all-time and looking to snap a 10-game skid in such games on Tuesday night.
  • The Cougars are 3-0 to start the season for the first time since 2018-19. 
  • Charleston improved to 9-2 in its last 11 season-openers with its 106-74 blowout win over South Carolina State on Nov. 11. 
  • Head coach Pat Kelsey, the 25th all-time head coach to lead CofC, launched his tenure with three wins and now sits just 11 victories shy of 200 in his career. 
  • Kelsey played at least 11 players in all three games with six Cougars averaging at least 9.0 PPG led by John Meeks (17.7 PPG) and Brenden Tucker (16.7 PPG). Tucker shot a blistering 71.4 percent from 3-point range over the three opening games.
  • Out of a possible 120 minutes during the three contests, Charleston led for 103:53 of game clock and trailed for just 8:35 (all during Lipscomb game). 
  • Charleston was dominant on the glass, outrebounding all three opponents combined 156-109. CofC snagged 55 offensive boards (18.3 per game). 

SIXTH MAN MACHINE
  • Junior Brenden Tucker is one of three Cougars who returned to play at CofC this season after the coaching change last spring. He's embraced the new fast style in a big way, coming off the bench to torch opponents. 
  • Tucker was named Rising Coaches Classic MVP after pouring 16.7 PPG off the pine in just 20.3 minutes. Tucker shot 16-of-30 from the field over three games, including a 71.4 percent clip from beyond the arc (10-of-14).
  • He reached double figures in all three games, including a season-high 20 vs. Loyola, his most since last January.  

QUICK STARTS 
  • Through three games, Charleston is pouncing on opponents early. In the first five minutes of gameclock in all three games combined, the Cougars outscored opponents 43-9, including jumping ahead 19-0 on South Carolina State and 15-0 on Loyola.
  • It's been the defense that has keyed the early momentum. South Carolina State didn't score until the 12:56 mark and reached double digits at the 9:57 mark. Loyola finally scored at the 13:54 juncture and committed three early turnovers. Charleston started out slow offensively against Lipscomb, missing its first four shots, but stayed neck-and-neck by forcing turnovers and tough shots. 
  • CofC forced 16.7 turnovers per game and held opponents to 24.2 percent shooting from deep (Loyola was just 2-of-23 from three)
MEEKS BEING MEEKS
  • Meeks picked up right where he left off a season ago, leading the Cougars with 17.7 PPG at the Rising Coaches Classic on 46.3 percent shooting overall and 43.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
  • Meeks scored 19 vs. SC State, 16 vs. Lipscomb and 18 vs. Loyola. Against Loyola, he added a career-high six assists and eight rebounds. He's the sixth Cougar since 2010 to tally at least 18, 8 and 6 in the same game  - joining Grant Riller, Jarrell Brantley, Andrew Lawrence, Canyon Barry and Joe Chealey. 
  • Over his career, Meeks has now racked up 32 double-digit scoring games while grabbing at least seven boards on 17 occasions.  Dating back to 2019-20, Meeks' teams are 11-1 when he scores in double figures. He's done so in nine consecutive games.  
STEADY VETERAN POINT GUARD
  • In addition to Meeks, Kelsey brought in another pair of grad transfers from the Div. II and Div. III levels. Dimitrius Underwood (two-time All-American) comes to Charleston via Div. III Texas-Dallas and Dalton Bolon (three-time All-American) comes via Div. II West Liberty.
  • Bolon is a sniper from deep, who averaged 9.0 PPG at the Rising Coaches Classic to begin the season, but he suffered a foot injury that will sideline him for a significant time. Underwood is a do-it-all combo guard who averaged 19.3 points and 8.5 boards a season ago. He's started 83 career games and scored in double figures 80 times. 
  • Underwood is leading CofC in rebounding (8.0), assists (4.0) and free throw attempts (15 total) while chipping in 9.0 PPG and normally guarding an opponent's lead guard. When the Cougars need to slow things down or stop the bleeding, Underwood's name is called. 
  • Underwood was named to the Rising Coaches All-Tournament Team after packing the box score all weekend. 

GAMEDAY REMINDERS
  • Doors will open 1.5 hours prior to tipoff
  • Concession stands will open when doors open and the Cougar Spirit Shop will open one hour prior to tipoff.
  • If you selected mobile tickets, add your tickets to your Apple Wallet or Google Pay App prior to arriving at TD Arena for the smoothest entry experience.
  • Don't forget the College of Charleston has implemented a Clear Bag Policy for athletics events . CLICK HERE to read the policy. (Link: https://cofcsports.com/sports/2018/10/23/college-of-charleston-athletics-clear-bag-policy.aspx )
  • In accordance with College of Charleston policy, face coverings are currently required for entry to TD Arena.
 
UP NEXT
  • Charleston hits the road for its first away game of the season, a battle with Oklahoma State in Stillwater on November 22.
  • Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. next Monday on ESPN+.

 
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