CHARLESTON, S.C.  – Nine Presbyterian players scored led by 10 points apiece from junior guards Samage Teel, Marquis Barnett, and Jamahri Harvey as the Blue Hose (9-7, BSC: 1-0) defeated the Charleston Southern Buccaneers (4-10, BSC: 0-1), 68-61, on the road on Wednesday evening in their Big South Conference opener.
 
Presbyterian finished the game with a 31-5 advantage in bench points and a 34-22 advantage in points in the paint.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF –  Charleston Southern scored the game's first basket. Then, PC's Trevon Reddish-Rhone tied the score at two after converting on a jumper in the lane. Charleston Southern scored nine of the next 11 points taking an 11-4 lead with 13:29 on the clock. Presbyterian responded with a 7-0 scoring run tying the score at 11 when Jonah Pierce scored off a stickback with 10:22 on the clock. Crosby James, Harvey, and Barnett also scored during the Blue Hose scoring run. Charleston Southern ended PC's scoring run with a three from the top of the key. Then, Presbyterian went on another 7-0 run taking an 18-14 lead after a layup from James, who scored six points in the half, with 8:20 on the clock. Kory Mincy, who scored eight points in the half, knocked down back-to-back threes. The Blue Hose enjoyed their largest lead of the half after Kaleb Scott connected on a free throw giving PC a 34-22 lead with 39 ticks left in the half. Presbyterian would take a 35-25 halftime lead.
 

SECOND HALF – Barnett started the second half scoring off with two free throws giving the Blue Hose a 12-point lead. Charleston Southern cut PC's lead to 37-29 at the 17:29 mark. Harvey scored six straight points increasing PC's lead to 43-29 at the 15:45 mark. At the 13:17 mark, Barnett's emphatic dunk gave the Blue Hose their largest lead, 47-32. Charleston Southern went on an 11-2 run with the majority of the scoring coming from the free throw line cutting Presbyterian's lead to 49-43 at the 7:44 mark. Reddish-Rhone stopped the Charleston Southern run converting on a tough jumper in the lane. Charleston Southern scored cutting PC's lead back to six points. Then, Teel connected on a contested three pushing the Blue Hose back in front, 54-45, with 5:48 left in the game. Pierce scored after an offensive rebound giving the Blue Hose a 56-45 lead. With 2:43 on the clock, Charleston Southern had cut Presbyterian's lead to 60-54. Two free throws from Teel and another basket inside from Pierce pushed the Blue Hose back in front, 64-54 with 55 ticks left in the game. Timely free throw shooting from Harvey and Teel down the stretch closed out the road win.
 

NOTES

• James, Pierce, and Mincy scored eight points apiece. Pierce also grabbed six rebounds.
• Kobe Stewart scored seven points and grabbed five rebounds with three steals.
• Barnett's 10 points was his 12^th double-digit scoring game of the season and the 31^st of his career.
• Teel's 10 points marked his tenth double-figure scoring game of the year.
• Harvey collected his eighth double-digit scoring game.
• Presbyterian's defense forced Charleston Southern into 16 turnovers.

 
NEXT GAME
The Blue Hose host UNC Asheville in their Big South Conference home opener this Saturday, January 6 at 2 p.m. in the Templeton Center.