CHARLESTON – Thursday morning, Charleston Southern hosted the North Florida Ospreys for an education day match-up. The Bucs would defeat UNF, 113-90.

Last season, CSU took on the Ospreys in Jacksonville in early November. North Florida would win the contest, 90-66. This season, UNF ironically still scored 90 points, but the Bucs scored 47 more points than they did a little over a year ago.

The tone would be set immediately by the home-team Buccaneers, beginning the game with a 13-0 run. The visiting Ospreys would come close to erasing their deficit, but would not ever hold the lead in Thursday's contest. In the first-half, CSU would knock down 14 of their 27 three-point attempts (51.9%) and command a 55-41 lead heading into the break.

North Florida would continue to knock down shots in half number two, but CSU's offensive gas pedal would never be let off of. A roster full of hot hands for the Buccaneers would result in an even better second-half as the Bucs scored 100 points for the fourth time this season, winning 113-90.

Notables:

• Charleston Southern's 22 made three-pointers is a school record against a Division 1 opponent.

• CSU completed an undefeated, 6-0 non-conference home slate for the first time since 2011.

• Six Buccaneers finished with 9 or more points on Thursday: Jesse Hafemeister (29), Armari Carraway (16), Luke Williams (15), Nate Brafford (12), A'lahn Sumler (12), Brycen Blaine (9).

• CSU shot a season-high from both the field (57%) and from behind the arc (51%).

• The Bucs also shot a season-high 85% from the free-throw line (17-20).

Post-Game Points:

"Credit to our guys shooting the ball the way we did. It's a great team win… Five guys in double-figures, another guy with 9, two more guys with 7… it just shows great team effort. The ball really moved offensively. I thought our defense really locked in in the second-half. Held them to 41 percent from the floor and 28 percent from three in the second-half. Credit to North Florida too. They can really shoot the ball. They have an explosive offense. I think they're much better than their record shows… Overall I felt we did enough to keep them at bay today."

Prior to the game, Head Coach Saah Nimley spoke about North Florida's defensive approach this season and how it's changed from years past. After the game he was asked what changed besides UNF's defensive strategy to produce such a large difference in result from last year's match-up with the Ospreys. Nimley said, "I'll tell you what it was. We went 2-for-19 from three last year. We went 22/43 this year. To win these basketball games we have to make shots. Thankfully this year we've got a lot of guys in that locker room that can make them."

A former Buccaneer, Lamar Oden Jr., was back in Charleston Thursday to receive his master's degree from Charleston Southern University. He was invited to come to the game and come into the locker room post-game by his former head coach. A player from this year's CSU squad who had a similar path to Oden Jr.'s last season is Jesse Hafemeister. When asked what Hafemeister has had to do to catch on to CSU's style of basketball, Nimley said, "There are a lot of similarities between (Hafemeister) and (Oden Jr.). Two graduate students who have to try and figure everything out in one year. Having to unlearn what they've known for four years, it's hard… Both of those guys are consistent in their approach. Both of those guys show up everyday… Jesse is showing up every single day and just works hard. He does not complain… He's started to figure it out, and now he takes pride in who we are and the brand of basketball that we do play, so I'm really happy that (Hafemeister) is starting to see a lot of that stuff come to fruition."

Regarding what another graduate player, Luke Williams, brings to the table, Coach was asked how Luke's abilities do not waiver much from opponent to opponent. Nimley said, "I can't put into words how comfortable (Williams) makes me feel out there… You wouldn't even know he had 15 (points) because he plays the game the right way. Whatever the game tells him to do, he does it… He's going to play winning basketball for every single second he's out there. As a coach looking at his point guard… wow, I feel great when that dude is out there."

When asked what he has learned at CSU that's given him the capability to have great games regardless of scoring totals or big numbers, Luke Williams said, "It has really been just realizing what it takes to win. That's something you learn through college. Sometimes you can worry about your individual performances, but that's not what it's about."

Regarding his team breaking the program record for made three-pointers against a Division 1 opponent, Coach was asked what it feels like to have a plethora of players contributing to that total. Nimley said, "The best thing about this team is we are a team. We are built so if somebody has an off night, somebody is there to step up, and have mercy on you if they're all on that night."

The bond between Luke Williams and Jesse Hafemeister is special. The two of them in addition to Trent Coleman have lived together during their time as Buccaneers, so the final question of the day was to Williams regarding what it feels like for Williams to not only see his teammate have a 29-point showing Thursday, but see his good friend find success on the floor. Williams said, "That's my roommate. That's my brother. It makes me happy to see a guy I am close to and came in with succeed. He deserves it. He puts in a lot of work, and is always in the gym… I'm proud of him. I love that guy. Good for him."

Up Next:

This Sunday, CSU will face a fellow Palmetto-state mid-major, the Furman Paladins. The contest will tip-off at 2:00 PM and is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN+.

To see a full sit-down conversation with Coach Nimley discussing the Bucs' next opponents and previous game recaps, watch the "2025-2026 Nimley Coaches Show" on CSUsports.com, X/Twitter, or YouTube.

For all the most up-to-date coverage involving CSU Men's Basketball, follow us on Instagram and X/Twitter @csu_mbball.