CofC Cruises in Post-Exam Tune-Up

Final Score: College of Charleston 89, North Greenville 52

Top Performers: 
Canyon Barry 26 points (5-9 3pt), 3 rebs, 3 asts

Marquise Pointer 16 pts (6-7 FG, 2-2 3pt), 4 asts, 1 stl

It's not uncommon for teams to schedule soft games around the fall semester final exam period. Other CAA opponents this week include Delaware's Wesley College and Mary Washington University. The Cougars were no exception by placing Division II North Greenville on the schedule this afternoon - an unofficial tune-up game to get their legs and minds prepared for a tough road test against the nationally ranked Miami Hurricanes next weekend. 

The Cougars certainly started the game looking like their heads were not in this one - whether they were looking ahead to the Canes or knocking off the rust from being off the court for a couple days. The Cougars would fall into a quick 5-1 hole, but quickly got things turned around off their defense and sharing of the basketball.

Returning to form, the Cougars set a season high in points (89) and assists (22). Marquise Pointer set a new career high with 16 points, Evan Bailey regained his shooting stroke with a career high 14, Barry notched another 20+ point performance and the Cougars committed just 10 turnovers and 13 personal fouls.

Even though North Greenville was hot from behind the arc (7-16 for the game), the CofC defense clamped down to force 21 turnovers and 38% shooting from two point range. The Cougars had a blistering 35-0 advantage in points off turnovers.

You can't take too much from a game against a non-D1 opponent, but anything less than a blowout win by the Cougars would be disappointing and this one was never really close. The defense was there, shots were falling at a high clip (over 50% from the field, the arc and the line) and the walk-ons got a few minutes of playing time.

Meanwhile, Jim Larranaga and the Miami Hurricanes are in the middle of 11 days of prep for their home contest against the Cougars. In order for CofC to sneak out of Coral Gables with a win, they'll need to execute to near perfection and maybe hope for a bit of a post-exam rustiness by The U.

More notes below:

• Twelve Cougars saw playing time in this game, including John Eck, Tim Branin and Harrison Bowne. Five players (Barry, Pointer, Bailey, Brantley, Johnson) scored in double figures.
• Donovan Gilmore returned to the court after suffering an ankle injury versus LSU and came off the bench to contribute five rebounds and a basket in 16 minutes
• The NBA saw it's first 5 x 5 game in four years from Draymond Green the other night. Payton Hulsey is going to come close to accomplishing the same one day. Once again he led the Cougars in assists (5) and rebounds (6). He already has a five steal game and registered two blocks today. He also averages 5 points per game.
• Great body language from the Cougars for much of this game. Loved seeing Brantley dive for a loose ball and Cam pumping up the bench after forcing a turnover. The team is loving this five game win streak and they'll need that energy next week.