CCU

Cantrell Leads The Citadel Past CCU 74-62

       

Cantrell Leads The Citadel Past CCU 74-62

CONWAY, S.C. — Senior Travis Cantrell scored all of his team-high 18 points in the second half as The Citadel held on to defeat in-state rival Coastal Carolina, 74-62, in non-conference action Saturday afternoon at McAlister Field House.

With the victory, the Bulldogs improve to 8-3 overall and the fastest start under coach Pat Dennis while the Chanticleers slip to 2-8.

The Citadel led by as many as 24 points in the second half when Michael Joseph, who finished with 17 points, connected on a free throw with 10:08 remaining, making the score 50-26.

The game was marred by 52 fouls, 35 turnovers, and first half shooting percentages in the 20s, and a second-half scuffle between The Citadel’s Cliff Washburn and Coastal’s Anthony Sunsjara, with both being ejected.

“This may be a typical Citadel game in that it really wasn’t pretty but we defended well,” said Dennis as the Bulldogs held the Chanticleers scoreless in an 8:07 span in the first half. “It was a good win for us and we did some good things.

“(Travis) Cantrell played very well in the second half,” he continued. “I told the team at halftime that it was time for the seniors to step it up some and they did. (Michael) Joseph and (Romas) Krywonis did a good job as did Alan Puckett.”

Joining Cantrell and Joseph in double-figures for The Citadel were Puckett with 15 points and Krywonis with 13.

“We didn’t shoot well, but The Citadel had a lot to do with that,” said Coastal’s coach Pete Strickland. “The Citadel is an aggressive team and plays with a lot of intensity.

“But I wasn’t disappointed in the first half as we played well and got some good shots that just didn’t fall,” Strickland added.

The Chanticleers were led by Kelvin Coggins who had 24 points and Derrick Robinson who came off the bench to add nine.

Coastal Carolina pulled within 11 points on two occasions in the second half. Coggins connected on two free throws with 2:11 remaining making the score 66-55 and Alvin Green made one free throw with 1:44 left to pull the Chanticleers to within 11, 69-58.

The Citadel won the battle of the boards, 44-35, with Puckett grabbing eight rebounds, all on the defensive end. Coastal’s top rebounder was Clint Nagel who had seven.

After a dismal 22.2 percent shooting in the first half, the Chanticleers finished at 32.7 for the game while the Bulldogs, which shot 29.6 in the first stanza, finished at 41.1 for the contest.