CHARLESTON, S.C. – Wednesday night, Charleston Southern men's basketball suited up back in their home gym to take on the High Point Panthers. The Panthers, led by Big South Preseason Player of the Year Kezza Giffa arrived in the Buc Dome with a 1-1 conference record after losing 99-103 to UNC Asheville last weekend. The Bucs, who were also defeated last Saturday by the Longwood Lancers, were tasked with the opportunity to defeat a big name conference foe in HPU.
From tip-off to the halftime buzzer, the Panthers were on fire. They would shoot an extremely efficient 58 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes of the ball game, and the scoring love was spread throughout many Panther players.
Daylen Berry, a streaky combo guard for CSU, would see many shots fall Wednesday night. Berry would make a career-high 6 three-point shots on only 11 attempts. Berry's impact would also be felt on the defensive end as he would be responsible for all 4 of the Bucs' steals.
For the first time since the road win at Miami, three Buccaneers would score 20 or more points. Berry would post a 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals statline. Taje' Kelly would continue his string of offensively gifted performances with 26 points of his own in addition to 9 rebounds. RJ Johnson, who played historically well against HPU last season, would do so again as he scored 21 points, shot 12/13 from the free throw line, and dished out 6 assists.
Those three would score 73 of the Bucs 79 points, but unfortunately that would not best High Point's 93 point showing as the Panthers would secure their second conference win of the year.
The Bucs will have ample time to tie up some loose ends and rest as they will not have another scheduled contest until next Wednesday in Rock Hill when they face the currently 1-2 conference record, Winthrop Eagles.
The Eagles are led by Kelton Talford who will serve as the next star studded Big South matchup for CSU's Taje' Kelly.
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