CHARLESTON, S.C. – After a major upset over Miami on Thanksgiving weekend, Head Coach Saah Nimley's Buccaneer basketball program returned to the Buc Dome to host the UT-Martin Skyhawks.

The Bucs began and ended the match with a hot hand. Despite the Skyhawks shooting over 46 percent from the field, the Bucs' efficient shooting impressed a gym full of CSU faithful. Eight Buccaneer three pointers in the first half, six by RJ Johnson, contributed to a 13-point Charleston Southern lead heading into the halftime locker room.

At halftime of the ball game, former CSU men's basketball head coach Barclay Radebaugh was presented with his own banner that will now reside in the building he called home for nearly two decades. Coach Radebaugh spent 19 years as the leader of the Charleston Southern men's basketball program, and amassed 249 career wins, the number featured on his rafter-residing banner.

During the post-game press conference, now Buccaneer head coach, Saah Nimley had nothing but homage to pay to Coach Radebaugh, 

"I am very happy that Coach (Radebaugh) got to experience that. He created everything (this program) has now… He was the pioneer behind all of this. How far he has helped grow this thing just speaks to who he is, the kind of coach he is, the kind of person he is."

Playing with a lead is something the Bucs have not had immense in-game experience doing so far this season, but in the second-half of Tuesday night's contest, they looked well-seasoned at maintaining.

Player of the game, RJ Johnson nearly broke his career-high in the scoring column. Johnson put up an impressive 30 points against the Skyhawks on an incredibly efficient 59 percent shooting clip (10/17). Johnson also added six assists on only two turnovers to further submit his claim to a back-to-back E.D.I.G.7. chain awarding performances.

The Bucs lead would stay in-tact through the second-half. Their consistently suffocating defense on top of shooting 54 percent (30/56) from the field would secure them the 83-68 win over UT-Martin.

In addition to Johnson's showcase, Taje' Kelly would post 16 points (7/13 from the field) and 7 rebounds as the reigning Big South Player of the Week. Daylen Berry would also enter double-figures in the scoring column with 14 points, 8 boards, 4 assists, and 2 steals.

CSU will head to Davidson College this Friday (Dec. 6) on a two-game win streak. 

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