Final Score (Thursday):
College of Charleston 40, Towson 37 (Cam Johnson 10 pts, 5-14 FG, 4 rebs, 3 asts)
Final Score (Saturday):
College of Charleston 59, Delaware 58 (Marquise Pointer 16 pts, 4-12 3pt, 3 rebs, 2 asts, 38 mins)
Last week the Cougars of Charleston went 0-2 in their games, losing by a combined 3 points to William & Mary and Elon. Both losses were defined by one ill-fated play that would determine the ultimate outcome - an offensive foul in the waning seconds on Thursday, a blown rebounding opportunity on Saturday. We ended this week's preview hoping for a different fate, one more in favor of the undermanned CofC team. With their defense playing to its potential, the Cougars did just that as they defeated both opponents on #Snowmageddon weekend.
The Towson game on Thursday was a good ol' fashioned Wojcik-era rock fight between the two best defensive teams in the league. Neither team ever looked comfortable running their offense, but the Cougars did an especially good job of taking Towson's leading scorer and rebounder William Adala Moto completely out of the game. The Wake Forest transfer was in early foul trouble and struggled from the line in the closing minutes to finish the night with just 6 points (1 field goal) and 7 turnovers.
In a game this devoid of offense you need to find new ways to put the ball in the hoop. The Cougars received an unexpected contribution from Terrance O'Donohue, who showed that raaange with two important three balls and a clutch effort by Cam Johnson, who became the only player to crack double digits when he scored off a broken inbounds play with 4 seconds to go.
There is no reward for style points. In this league a win is a win and the Cougars grabbed an important one on the road in Baltimore.
After flying back to the warm(ish) Palmetto state, the Cougs faced a struggling Delaware team in one of the few on-schedule games this weekend. The Blue Hens were the only winless team in CAA play - a label that Drexel would share had they not gotten their only victory at home against Charleston.
As has been the case in many conference games this season (especially on Saturdays), the Cougars fell into an early double-digit lead to a hot-shooting Blue Hens team. Delaware threw a zone at Charleston for much of the first half and without a legit inside or outside threat, CofC was all too happy to take bad jump shots.
After being held scoreless for much of the opening period, Cam Johnson picked up his second foul. Rather than pulling him before he picked up a third, Coach Grant left Cam out there and was quickly rewarded. Johnson went on a three-shot tear where he outscored Delaware on his own 8-0. Then he found Pointer (pictured above) for a buzzer beating three that sliced the UD lead to just two at the break.
In the second half, Delaware's shooting fell back to earth and the Cougars limited them to one shot attempt per possession. Still, this wouldn't be a #CAAHoops contest or a #CardiacCougs matinee without some drama. The Cougars were forced to make their free throws as Delaware hit a pair of threes late in the game to keep things way too close. After Brantley missed his final attempt with seconds to go, Delaware's last ditch heave was just inches off target. CofC held on for a one point victory.
Now at 4-4 in the CAA standings, Charleston is tied with Northeastern, 1 game back of William & Mary / Towson and 2 games back of JMU / Hofstra / Wilmington. Elon is alone at 3-5 while Drexel and Delaware are at the bottom of the dog pile.
Next week is a big one for the Cougars. First they host Northeastern on Thursday. The Huskies still have the league's marquee win on their resume (over Miami), but have lost 4 of their last 5 games. A win over that team would put some distance between two squads that are currently locked together in the standings.
Then the Cougs make the short road trip up to Wilmington to face the first place Seahawks. Coach Keatts' team has won 5 in a row and will be coming off a marquee game against JMU in Harrisonburg two days prior. A pair of wins would propel Charleston into the upper half of the conference and leave the chances of playing in the suicide Friday CAA Tournament game in the dust. A split or 0-2 finish is just as likely, but would leave CofC with some work to do. Anything goes in this crazy conference, so tune in to see how the cards fall.
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