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College of Charleston Athletics

Scoreboard

team huddle
90
Winner Col. of Charleston CC 1-0,0-0 CAA
80
Southern Ill. SIU 0-1,0-0 MVC
Winner
Col. of Charleston CC
1-0,0-0 CAA
90
Final
80
Southern Ill. SIU
0-1,0-0 MVC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Col. of Charleston CC 45 45 90
Southern Ill. SIU 42 38 80

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Cougars Victorious in Season, Mack Era Opener

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. –  The College of Charleston men's basketball team earned a 90-80 win over Southern Illinois to open the 2024-25 season at the Field of 68 Opening Showcase. The win is the first official Division I men's basketball win of the season for any team, and the first victory of the Chris Mack era.

Charleston has now won four straight season openers.

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Deywilk Tavarez scored the first basket of the 2024-25 season with a triple on the Cougars first possession. Ante Brzovic kept the momentum rolling, going 4-4 from the field early to put the Cougars up 20-13.
  • The Salukis cut the Charleston lead to three at 26-23 before a CJ Fulton three put the Cougars back up by six with seven minutes to play.
  • Rookies Justas Stonkus and Jaxon Prunty both found their stride behind the arc. Paired with the Cougar defense, Charleston led by as much as 11 with five minutes to play in the first half.
  • The Salukis ended the half on an 11-6 run before Brzovic hit a buzzer-beater jumper off the inbound from Fulton to give Charleston a 45-42 lead entering the locker room. The Cougars shot 53% from the field in the frame compared to the Saluki's 44%.
  • Tavarez started the second half with another make from the behind the arc before the Salukis tied it up with back-to-back triples.
  • Tied at 69-69 with nine minutes to play, Tavarez, Brzovic, and Elijah Jones provided the Cougar offense to take a 77-71 edge with six minutes to play. Charleston went on a 16-5 run and never looked back for the 90-80 win.
KEY COUGARS
  • Ante Brzovic had a game high 27 points, nine rebounds, and four assists for Charleston.
  • Deywilk Taverez and CJ Fulton each contributed 17 points. Fulton's 17 are a Charleston high. He added seven assists.
  • Prunty posted ten points in his collegiate debut while Jones added eight rebounds.
GAME NOTES
  • Charleston shot 56% from the field compared to Southern Illinois 40%
  • The Cougars won the rebounding battle 38-27 while causing 15 Saluki turnovers.
UP NEXT
  • The Cougars return to TD Arena for the first home game of 2024-25 season on Friday, November 8 vs. South Florida. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m.
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