CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston Southern concludes its home schedule Wednesday night with its senior day contest against Gardner-Webb. Tipoff at the Buc Dome is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., and fans are encouraged to arrive early as the Bucs pay tribute to their six seniors prior to the start.
Game 28 Notes: CSU vs. Gardner-Webb
CSU (12-15, 6-8 BSC) enters the final week of the regular season destined for the No. 4 or 5 seed on the South Division side of next week's Big South Tournament, and is looking to generate momentum off Saturday's 86-47 triumph over Presbyterian. Gardner-Webb (16-13, 9-5 BSC) enters with hopes of a regular season conference championship still in its sights, as the Runnin' Bulldogs sit in a three-way tie atop the South Division with Coastal Carolina and UNC Asheville.
CSU head coach Barclay Radebaugh's club is focused on hitting its stride with the conference tournament looming. The Bucs are also eager to try to send out their six seniors on a winning note in their home finale. The 66 wins Charleston Southern has compiled over the last four years are the second most over a four-year stretch in program history. That run of success has included back-to-back 19-win seasons, highlighted by a Big South regular season championship and an NIT berth last year.
"This game really means a lot to us and is going to be emotional," Radebaugh said in reference to his six seniors (Mitchell Deter, Greg Dorleus, Alhaji Fullah, Matt Kennedy, Thomas Odom, Sheldon Strickland and student manager Bradford Hamilton). "It's a group that has really sacrificed and helped us grow as a program. They've accomplished a lot and we're excited to recognize them, and hope that we can accomplish some more."
Adding intrigue to Wednesday's matchup is the opponent. CSU upended Gardner-Webb, 78-76, in a thriller in Boiling Springs on January 22. The Bucs stormed out to a 35-17 first half lead, only to see the Runnin' Bulldogs rally to take a five-point lead in the second half. CSU responded on the road to earn its first ever win at Paul Porter Arena, with Arlon Harper's foul line jumper with 2.7 seconds remaining providing the final difference.
The hotly contested first meeting between the two squads was nothing new. Last season, Gardner-Webb secured an overtime sweep of CSU, winning by one at the Buc Dome to hand the Bucs their first conference loss before denying them a chance to clinch the regular season crown late in the campaign.
GWU has rebounded from an 0-2 start to Big South play to win nine of its last 12 games under first-year head coach Tim Craft. The Runnin' Bulldogs bested Winthrop in overtime, 85-79, on Saturday behind a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds from Jerome Hill. GWU's sophomore forward has become the focal point for Craft's club. Hill has recorded double-doubles in three of his last five games, and is averaging 14 points and eight rebounds for the year. He had a team-high 19 points in the January 22 game against CSU. Radebaugh knows the Bucs will have to be at their best to deal with Hill and GWU.
"They're playing really well and are in the hunt for a division championship so we know we'll have to be sharp," Radebaugh said. "I was really pleased with the way we approached the Presbyterian game and our effort in the game itself, so hopefully we can translate that forward and give ourselves an opportunity to beat a good Gardner-Webb team."
Following the Gardner-Webb game, Charleston Southern wraps up the regular season Saturday at Coastal Carolina in a 2 p.m. tipoff.
