CCU

Men's Basketball Falls to Charleston Southern 63-59

       

Men's Basketball Falls to Charleston Southern 63-59

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CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Coastal Carolina University men’s basketball team (11-18, 5-12 Big South) fell to Charleston Southern (9-19, 4-13 Big South) 63-59 Feb. 26 in the penultimate regular-season contest at Charleston, S.C.    Coastal Carolina had as much as a five-point lead in the first half, but the Bucs rode the hot shooting of Joel Lamb and a 26-19 rebounding advantage to take a 29-27 halftime lead. Coastal Carolina led 10-5 with 15:17 left on a layup from redshirt junior Joseph Harris (Lejeune, N.C./Lejeune), but Charleston Southern answered with a 9-2 run, capped by a Lamb jumper at 10:22. The game was tied four times in the first half before the Bucs went on a 9-0 run in a 3:32 span to take a 27-19 lead. Coastal Carolina answered late in the half as a dunk from sophomore Anthony Breeze (Greenville, S.C./Greenville) and two free throws from Harris in the last 1:08 cut the CSU lead to two at the break.   Coastal Carolina took a 33-32 lead on a steal and layup from freshman Dexter Moore (Bluefield, W. Va./Hargrave Military) at 16:52 of the second half, but Charleston Southern went on an 11-5 run, capped by a three from Tovi Bailey at 11:41, making it 43-37 Bucs. Charleston Southern led by as much as eight three times in the half, the latest on a three from Bailey with 2:10 left, but Coastal Carolina would answer. With 54 seconds left, junior Mario Edwards (Massillon, Ohio/Chipola J.C.) hit a three to cut the lead to 59-54. The Chants would foul Omar Carter, who made two free throws with 50 seconds left. On Coastal Carolina’s next possession, senior Steven Sexton (Monticello, Ky./Wayne County) hit a three-pointer to make it 61-57. The Chants would use their full-court pressure to force a steal, as Harris’ layup made it 61-59 with 22 seconds left. The Chants would then foul Jamarco Warren, who made it two possessions with two free throws.  Moore missed a three with nine seconds left and the Bucs got the rebound to ice the game.   Harris earned his 10th straight double-double, scoring 12 points and adding a game-high 13 rebounds. Edwards added 13 points, while Sexton and Breeze had nine points apiece. Moore added six points and five assists. For Charleston Southern, Lamb had a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Lamb hit five field goals in the first half and added four blocked shots. Bailey added 15 points, including three three-pointers, while Warren and Carter had 11 points apiece.   Coastal Carolina shot 44.4 percent from the floor, but was only 5-of-13 from the free-throw line. The Bucs were 6-of-21 from three-point range and had a 42-37 rebounding advantage.   Coastal Carolina had the 28-18 advantage on points in the paint, while the Bucs had 17 second-chance points.   Coastal Carolina ends the regular season Saturday, Feb. 28 at Winthrop. Game time is at 2 p.m., in Rock Hill, S.C.