CofC Rebound, Down Delaware 84-67

The past week has been eye opening for the College of Charleston men’s basketball team. After relishing a 20 game win streak and enjoying an 18th national ranking in the weekly AP Poll, the Cougars came down to earth with their first home loss to Hofstra this past Saturday (Jan 28th), dropping them out of the poll. To add insult to injury the Cougars hit the road coming up short (70-69) at Drexel, suffering their first two game losing streak this season.

With their 3-point game missing in action as well as their offensive rebounding advantage askew over the last two contests, would Charleston be able to regroup with a 2pm game Saturday at Delaware? Leading by two at intermission, the Cougars accounted for 46 second half points several on second attempts as they downed the Blue Hens 84-67 on Delaware’s home court at the Bob Carpenter Center.

Dalton Bolon lead the Cougars with a game tying 18 points, knocking down 4 of 9 from beyond the arc. Ben Burnham and Pat Robinson came in off the bench to add 30 points with each chipping in 15 apiece. Reyne Smith went 4 of 8 from long ranch to finish with 12 points. For the game Charleston recorded 13 of 32 from 3-point land. With the win CofC improve to 22-3 and 10-2 in the CAA.

After coming up short at Drexel CofC Head Coach Pat Kelsey said he told his players to remain focused. “We got punched in the mouth at Drexel. It was a really tough loss, but really good teams overcome it.” Regarding the victory over Delaware. “We really got back to our identity, our core.”

The Blue Hens jumped out on top holding a slight 8-7 advantage after five minutes of play. A long range missile by Bolon put CofC up by six near the midway point but an 8-2 run by Delaware tied the contest at 18 all with 7 minutes remaining. The lead would go back and forth before a 3-pointer by Raekwon Horton gave Charleston a four point margin. Jameer Nelson Jr. answered with a short jumper at the buzzer as the home team trailed 38-36 heading into the locker room.

CofC came out of the break on a mission. A 13-2 run out of the gate found the visitors up 51-38 with 14:36 still showing on the clock. Delaware would cut the margin to nine points on two occasions before Charleston began to pour it on, extending their margin to 18 (71-53) on an old fashioned 3-point play by Ante Brzovic.

The Cougars would maintain a double digit lead for the final 12 minutes. When Burnham threw down a ferocious two handed dunk with 1:16 showing CofC took a brief 19 point lead before Houston Emory made a couple from the line for Delaware with 31 ticks on the clock giving Charleston a 17 point margin of victory.

Nelson Jr. and Jyare Davis matched Bolon’s offensive output leading the Blue Hens with 18 each. Cavan Reilly came in off the bench to add 10 points for the losing team. With the loss Delaware fall to 4-8 in conference play and 12-13 on the season.

CofC’s Brzovic and Davis each hauled in nine rebounds, with the Cougars besting the Blue Hens 43-35 on the glass, grabbing a season high 18 offensive boards.

Charleston will return to TD Arena to host UNCW on February 8. Action is set for 7pm. Fans are encouraged to wear white to contest for the annual white out game.

The Cougars defeated UNCW on January 11 in Wilmington, 71-69.