CHARLESTON, S.C. - For the first time in 19 days, College of Charleston is back home on Friday to tip off Colonial Athletic Association action at TD Arena. The Cougars host Delaware to launch league play on New Year's Eve at 2 p.m. ET.  The game will air on FloSports. Tickets can be purchased here.

 
STORYLINES

• A battle-tested CofC squad finally enters Colonial Athletic Association play having won eight non-conference games, its most since the 2018-19 campaign. The eight victories came against schools from seven different conferences across college hoops. 
• The Cougars are coming off a gritty road win at Old Dominion on Dec. 22, in which they picked up their third true road victory already. CofC won 82-80 on the back of a game-winning floater in the waning seconds from Babacar Faye. The Cougars are now 4-1 in games decided by five or fewer points this season. 
• CofC has won five of its last six CAA-openers, splitting last year's CAA-opener series at Delaware. The Cougars are 13-7 all-time against Delaware, winning their last matchup with the Blue Hens, 66-59 in Newark a season ago. Friday will mark the first game against Delaware at TD Arena since Feb. 27, 2020. 
• CofC hasn't lost at home to Delaware since Jan. 10, 2015, having posted a 7-2 all-time record against the Blue Hens at TD Arena. The Cougars are 10-2 overall in their last 12 matchups with Delaware. 
• Head coach Pat Kelsey enters his first game in the CAA after compiling a 110-46 league record in Big South play, averaging an impressive 12.2 league wins per year over nine seasons. Over his last 37 games as a head coach, Kelsey is 31-6. He has never faced Delaware in his career. 
• In the absence of senior leaders John Meeks and Dalton Bolon due to injuries in recent weeks, CofC's crop of freshmen continues to shine. Freshmen Babacar Faye, Reyne Smith, Ben Burnham, Raekwon Horton and new addition Nikita Evdokimov combined for 43 of the Cougars' 82 points at Old Dominion (52.4 percent). All five chipped in at least six points in the gusty effort.
• Senior Osinachi Smart also stepped up in Meek's absence down low, scoring eight points and snatching a team-best 10 boards. When Smart grabs at least five boards, CofC is 6-1 this season.
• Smart and company have CofC has one of the nation's elite rebounding teams. The Cougars average 15.17 offensive rebounds per game, which ranks fourth nationally behind only TCU, Kentucky and Grand Canyon. CofC ranks ninth nationally in total rebounds per game with 42.33.
• Kelsey's squad is +73 on the glass this season, outrebounding 10 of 12 opponents. 

DIMITRIUS DOING IT ALL

• CofC's do-it-all floor general Dimitrius Underwood (two-time All-American), who came to Charleston via Div. III Texas-Dallas, is a big combo guard who averaged 19.3 points and 8.5 boards a season ago. He's started 92 career games and scored in double figures 85 times after finishing with another 13 points at Old Dominion to lead the Cougars. When Underwood reaches double figures, CofC is 4-1 this season.
• Underwood is averaging 9.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.1 steals. He is one of only two players nationally in all of college basketball averaging those numbers in every category this season alongside Furman's Jalen Swanson. 
•  Underwood is leading CofC in rebounding (6.8), offensive boards (27 total), steals (25 total) and assists (40 total) while chipping in 9.8 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 outstanding in the road win at Chattanooga, capping an all-around performance with a game-winning putback tip-in with 1.7 seconds left. He finished with 12 points, three assists, three boards and three steals against the Mocs. He followed with eight points, seven boards, five steals and four assists in another stat-packing outing vs. Tulane on Nov. 30 and eight points, eight rebounds at Tulane on Dec. 7.
• The big point guard is coming off a season-best 15-point, nine-rebounding outing at Furman and a 13-point, six-rebound outing at ODU.
• He ranks second the CAA with 2.1 steals per game and has a steal in each of the last nine games dating back to Nov. 13. 

GAMEDAY REMINDERS

• 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 required at TD Arena.

 
UP NEXT

• Charleston heads to Northeastern on Jan. 3.
• Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. on FloSports.