NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - Freshman guard Sheldon Strickland was a perfect 7-for-7 from beyond the arc, but his 27-point effort wasn't enough as the CSU men's basketball team fell to the College of Charleston Cougars 77-69 in The Charleston Clash presented by Stokes Honda at the North Charleston Coliseum on Wednesday night.

Strickland led all players in scoring, going 9-of-13 from the field as the Bucs (.453) outshot the Cougars (.419) in the game. The Bucs also prevailed from beyond the arc, shooting 47.1 percent to the Cougars' 33.3 percent.

Junior forward Kelvin Martin was the team's leading rebounder with nine boards, while also finishing with 10 points. Redshirt sophomore Kenny Mitchell also finished in double figures, putting up 12 points and grabbing eight boards. Mitchell also added in a block and three steals.

Jeremy Simmons's 26 points and 12 rebounds led the Cougars, with Andrew Goudelock adding in 20 points. Donavan Monroe also finished with 10 points. The Cougars had just 11 turnovers to the Buccaneers' 14, but it was the Bucs who were able to capitalize with 19 points. However, the Cougars made the most of their 22 offensive rebounds with 26 second chance points to the Bucs' 20. C of C outrebounded CSU 43-38.

The Cougars jumped out to a quick 10-5 lead in the first four minutes of action. The Bucs were able to keep it close and came within two after a layup by Sexton with 12:35 remaining in the first half, but couldn't hold keep up and fell into an 11 point hole after an 8-0 C of C scoring run. A jumper, followed by a 3-pointer, from Strickland broke the streak and cut the deficit to just six points with 5:36 remaining in the first half.

Wiggins put up a dunk to but the Cougars ahead by ten once again, but a 6-0 run by the Bucs brought them within four. They were unable to keep it that close, as the two teams traded shot from downtown before a dunk from Simmons gave the Cougars the 39-31 advantage at halftime.

CSU's Martin was the first to strike in the second half, but C of C more than made up for it with a 7-0 run soon after. Strickland sunk two big 3-pointers to cut the deficit to 50-44, but the Cougars made their own shot from downtown to keep bring their lead to nine points.

A jumper from Jo'el Lamb put the Bucs in striking distance at 55-50, and another big shot from downtown by Strickland made it a one-possession game with 10:50 remaining. Strickland's next 3-pointer would give the Bucs their first lead of the night with 10:24 to go. Their lead was short lived, as Monroe also sunk a 3-pointer to put the Cougars ahead by two once again.

The teams again traded shots from downtown before a 6-0 run propelled the Cougars to a 67-61 lead. Trent Wiedeman sunk a jumper and the ensuing free throw, and a 3-pointer from Goudelock put the Cougars ahead by ten once again. Strickland then went to the line for the Bucs to get the deficit back down to eight.

With just over three minutes to go in regulation, the Cougars had possession for the next 90 seconds but couldn't put one in from the field and finally picked up two points at the free-throw line to take a 75-69 lead with 90 seconds to play. The Cougars put up two more points and held off the Bucs to earn the 77-69 victory.

The Bucs will play their final game before the Christmas holiday on Tuesday when they host Bluefield at the Buc Dome in a 7:30 tip off.

Game Highlights

Postgame Quotes