The Presbyterian College men's basketball team outscored Charleston Southern, 43-33, in the second half to break open a one-point halftime lead and earn the 76-65 Big South win in the final regular season game Saturday afternoon at the Templeton Center.  Ben Drake recorded his fifth career- double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Blue Hose. It was also senior night with Drake, Armel TeTe, and JC Younger being honored in a pre-game ceremony.
 
Scoring the game
A lot of back and forth early in the first half, with neither team able to get a foothold, Charleston Southern broke away first, jumping out to a six-point, 17-11, lead, 9:47 on the clock.  PC shipped away at the lead, cutting the margin to three, 18-21, 8:01 to go.  The Bucs came back with two three-pointers and a layup in an 8-0 run, to jump back ahead, this time by 11, 29-18, 4:37 to go.  The Blue Hose rallied with 13 unanswered, ignited by a Chris Martin three-pointer at 4:19, to rally back to a two-point lead, 31-29, 1:01 to go.  Phlandrous Fleming ended the CSU drought with a three-pointer at the eight second mark, before JC Younger closed out the half with a jumper to give the Blue Hose a 33-32 lead at intermission.
 
The Blue Hose scored five straight to open the second half and led by six with 17:39 remaining, extending the lead to seven off a Hightower dunk at 15:02. Ty Jones hit a jumper and free throw to make it a four-point game, 42-46, 13:50 on the clock. The Blue Hose responded with 12 unanswered, which included three-pointers from Kody Shubert and Hightower, to storm ahead to a 16-point lead, 58-42, 10:47 on the clock. A three-pointer by Deontaye Buskey, five free throws and a basket by Sadarius Bowser over the next six minutes helped the Bucs cut the margin to 12, 54-66, 3:58 remaining. CSU made it a nine-point game, with a three-pointer from Duncan LeXander, but Ben Drake came back with back to back layups to take PC's lead back to 13, 72-59, 2:06 left. CSU cut it to nine again with just under a minute to go, but Shubert hit back to back free throws to keep any potential rally at bay, helping PC earn the 76-65 win.
 
Players of the Game
Ben Drake led all players with 21 points and 11 rebounds for his fifth career double-double. Cory Hightower posted 15 points, with JC Younger adding 13. Ty Jones and Deontaye Buskey led Charleston Southern with 19 points apiece, with Jones pulling down a team-high seven rebounds.  Kody Shubert added a career-high seven assists.
 
Stats of the Game
PC shot 55.6%% in the second half to finish with 46.4% for the game, while Charleston Southern shot 37.9%. The Bucs recorded nine three-pointers and 12 free throws, while the Blue Hose added six threes and 18 free throws.  PC held the rebounding edge, 37-31, with the Bucs recording two more turnovers, 14-12. PC controlled the points in the paint, 34-20, and points off the bench, 23-10.
 
Notables
Ben Drake posted his fifth career double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Kody Shubert recorded a career-high seven assists.
                      
For the Record
PC improves to 10-21 overall and 7-11 in the Big South, while Charleston Southern drops to 13-17 overall and 7-11 in league play.
 
Up Next
PC will head into the Big South Tournament Tuesday, March 3, with a time and opponent to be determined later.