/** Google Universal Analytics for eVenue **/ /** End Google Universal Analytics **/
Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

College of Charleston Athletics

Scoreboard

Osi dunk Hofstra CAA tourney

No. 6 Seed Cougars Take on No. 2 Seed UNCW in CAA Semis Monday Night

Tip-off on CBSSN is set for 8:30 p.m. ET in Washington, D.C.

3/7/2022 9:54:00 AM

WASHINGTON, D.C. -  After downing Hofstra in the CAA Quarterfinals, 92-76, Charleston Basketball turns to its semifinal matchup with UNCW on Monday night. The Cougars and Seahawks square off on national TV with tip off set for 8:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network. 

STORYLINES
  • CofC punched its ticket to the CAA Tournament Semifinals for the first time since 2019 with a resounding 92-76 win over Hofstra on Sunday night. The Cougars' 16-point win over the Pride marked its largest margin of victory in CAA Tournament action in program history. 
  • Charleston set the tone early, pouring in a CAA Tournament-record 55 first-half points and shot 55 percent from the field for the game, extending the Cougars' five-game streak of shooting better than 50 percent as a team. CofC never trailed and led for nearly 39 minutes of gameclock.
  • The 17th win for Pat Kelsey and CofC matched the most the Cougars won in legendary coach John Kresse's first season at the helm in 1979-80. Coach Kelsey hasn't lost a conference tournament game since 2019, winning seven straight such games entering Monday night's semifinal. 
  • UNCW and the Cougars meet for a third time after the Seahawks won the pair of regular season matchups by a combined 14 points. UNCW is 17-15 in the all-time series. CofC is looking for its first victory in the series since March 2, 2019 and its first trip to the CAA Championship game since winning the tournament in 2018. 
  • CofC's offense continues to be scorching, with the Cougars scoring at least 79 points in all of their last five contests. Since Feb. 22, CofC is averaging 87.4 points per game and shooting 54.7 percent from the field and 43.6 percent from beyond the arc while outrebounding teams by 10. The Cougars have been one of the most electric offensive teams in the country all season, leading the nation in pace with 74.1 possessions per 40 minutes and ranking fourth in overall possessions per game (76.9).
  • The Cougars have had 16 of 31 games this season decided by five or fewer points, going 9-7 in those games. Five of the last seven meetings with UNCW were decided by single digits.  
  • John Meeks was sensational in the win over Hofstra, pouring in a season-high 31 points on 11-of-16 FGs. That marked the most by a Cougar this season and his most since his time at Bucknell. Meeks scored 22 of his 31 in CofC's monster first half. In two games vs. UNCW this season, Meeks averaged 24 points on 56.7 percent shooting (17-of-30). 
  • CofC's freshmen continued to shine in the quarterfinal, scoring 29 combined points vs. Hofstra. Reyne Smith & Ben Burnham became the first CofC duo to earn CAA All-Rookie honors in the same season since Jarrell Brantley & Marquise Pointer in 2015-16. A freshman has scored in double figures in 26 of 31 games. Smith is averaging 13.4 PPG and 3.4 threes per game over the last eight games.
  • Charleston outrebounded Hofstra by 14 with 11 offensive boards. The Cougars rank 12th nationally in total boards and fifth in offensive rebounding (both CAA-highs). CofC's rebounding margin, +6.8, is its highest since 2005-06 and the sixth-highest in program history (third in Division I era).  

UP NEXT
  • With a win, CofC would take on the winner of Towson-Delaware in the CAA Championship Game on Tuesday night.
  • Tip off would be at 7 p.m. ET on CBSSN.
Print Friendly Version