CLINTON, S.C - In a game with 7 ties and 20 lead changes, Charleston Southern was held scoreless in the final 7 minutes and 52 seconds, before dropping a 63-54 contest vs. the Presbyterian Blue Hose Saturday. With the loss, the Bucs fell to 5-11 on the season with a 1-5 mark in the Big South, while Presbyterian improved to 7-11 and 4-3 in the conference.

Senior Giedrius Knysas was the constant for CSU, recording 14 points and 6 rebounds, including a 7-11 effort from the floor. Kelvin Martin finished with 11 points and three rebounds before fouling out. Presbyterian had four players reach double figures, led by Bryan Bostic with 15 points.

After a quick two from the Blue Hose to start the game, CSU took the lead when Jamarco Warren completed a four point play 28 seconds into the game. Tovi Bailey followed that up with a three to complete a 7-0 run, but Presbyterian came back to tie things up at 9 apiece with 16:41 on the clock. The Bucs found themselves down six, but responded with another 7-0 run to take a 22-21 lead with 9:19 remaining in the half.

Martin ignited the CSU offense with a pair of steals and transition baskets, the second of which was an impressive finish above the rim. Martin's dunk gave the Bucs a 26-25 lead at the 5:26 mark. Presbyterian refused to go away however and both teams traded baskets over the final minutes.

Quinton Goods and Austin Johnson had back to back offensive rebounds and put-backs to take a 35-34 lead with 18 seconds left. It looked like the Bucs were going to escape into the locker room with the lead, but a Bostic three for Presbyterian gave the Blue Hose a 37-35 advantage during the intermission.

CSU had 11 team fouls in the first half and found a number of players in foul trouble, including only a minute of play for Omar Carter before picking up two fouls. The Bucs looked to their bench and Johnson responded in a big way, recording 7 points on 2-3 shooting. Martin also stepped up to record 9 points, 2 steals, 2 assists, and 2 rebounds in the first 20 minutes. CSU shot 50 from the floor as a team (13-26) and 40 percent from behind the arc (4-10), despite the two point deficit.

A slow start led to a six point hole for the Bucs to start the second half. CSU came back to surge for a 7-0 run and take a 42-41 advantage with 14:23 to play. The two teams were deadlocked again at 46 with 11:40 remaining after two Warren free throws. Over the next 5 minute segment, there were 13 consecutive baskets, which either tied the score or changed the lead. Knysas followed his own shot to put CSU up by one again, 54-53 with 7:52 to play.

Unfortunately, after the Knysas basket, the Bucs started their scoring drought and the Blue Hose were able to take advantage. Presbyterian took their biggest lead of the game after a 10-0 run, to go up 63-54 with 1:55 left in the game. Neither team would reach the scoreboard in those final two minutes, keeping the final score at 63-54.

The Bucs return to the CSU Field House on Tuesday, when they will host the Wintrhop Eagles in a 7:30 contest.