CHARLESTON – Saturday afternoon, Charleston Southern traveled to UNC Asheville for a 2:00 PM final regular season contest in Kimmel Arena. CSU would spoil the Bulldog's Senior Day with a 92-75 victory..
Early successful shooting from the Bucs, including three-pointers from A'lahn Sumler, Jesse Hafemeister, and Luke Williams, helped Charleston Southern jump out to a 14–12 lead in the game's first eight minutes.
Over the next four minutes of the first half, UNC Asheville went on a 9–1 run. During the Bulldogs' run, CSU committed five turnovers, allowing Asheville to take a 21–15 lead with 7:49 remaining in the half. A pair of Hafemeister three-pointers, along with a slam from Reis Jones, tied the game at 26–26 at the 5:00 mark.
By halftime, two players had combined for 38 of the game's 72 points — Asheville's Kameron Taylor (20) and CSU's Jesse Hafemeister (18). No other Buccaneer scored more than four points in the first 20 minutes, as Charleston Southern entered the locker room trailing by six, 39–33.
In the first 62 seconds of the second half, CSU erased the six-point halftime deficit. A Hafemeister three, a Nate Brafford layup, and Hafemeister converting 2-of-3 free throws gave the Buccaneers a 40–39 lead. Just over a minute later, Hafemeister was fouled on a three-pointer by DJ Patrick and again made 2-of-3 free throws for his 24th and 25th points of the afternoon.
CSU graduate student Trent Coleman drew a flagrant foul on Asheville true freshman Daniel Thomas. After converting one of the awarded free throws, the contest was tied at 45–45. On the following possession, fellow graduate student Luke Williams knocked down a turnaround jumper to give the Buccaneers a 47–45 advantage with 16:44 to play.
After two of Asheville's backcourt starters, Justin Wright and DJ Patrick, picked up their fourth fouls, three-pointers from Jaquias Franklin and A'lahn Sumler pushed the CSU lead to four, 53–49, with 14:27 remaining.
A three-pointer by Nate Brafford extended the CSU lead to seven, 61–54, and a Luke Williams and-one conversion on the following possession pushed the lead to double figures with 9:45 to play.
Over the next two minutes, a Lase Olalere alley-oop finish, two Sumler layups, and a Luke Williams free throw — courtesy of a technical foul on the Bulldogs' head coach — stretched the CSU lead to 14, 71–57.
Despite a handful of Bulldog two-pointers and free throws, a Williams three-pointer, two Reis Jones dunks, an and-one conversion, and a deep Jaquias Franklin three-pointer extended the CSU lead to 16, 85–69, with 3:37 left in the game.
An exclamation point in the form of another Reis Jones slam sealed the CSU victory, 92–75, sweeping UNC Asheville for the first time since the 2018–19 season.
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Notables:
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Jesse Hafemeister's 7 made three-pointers is tied for third-most by a Buccaneer this season and tied for 12th most all-time in program history.
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A'lahn Sumler would record his 500th point of the season and 1,000th point of his collegiate career Saturday afternoon. He needed 11 points in the contest to achieve both milestones, he scored 13.
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Reis Jones' 2 blocks was enough to tie the current CSU program record for Most Blocks in a Single Season. The big man currently sits at 57 swats on the year.
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Five Buccaneers would score 8+ points in the contest: Hafemeister (28), Luke Williams (19), A'lahn Sumler (13), Jaquias Franklin (8), and Reis Jones (8).
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The Bucs would achieve 20+ assists for the 2nd time during conference play this season – their T-7th best assist night on the season.
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From long range, the Bucs would shoot 14-of-22 from three (64%).
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With Saturday's victory, the Bucs secured the No. 7 seed in the upcoming conference tournament.
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Up Next:
With Saturday being the regular season finish-line for the Big South Conference, all nine programs will travel to Johnson City, Tennessee for the 2026 Air Force Reserve Big South Basketball Championships beginning on March 4th.
For all the most up-to-date coverage involving CSU Men's Basketball, follow us on Instagram and X/Twitter @csu_mbball.
