CHARLESTON – Tuesday, Charleston Southern would take the floor at 11:00 AM local time for an Education Day match-up against the UT-Martin Skyhawks. UT-Martin would win the matinee contest 73-56.
The first ever contest between CSU and UT Martin occurred last season on December 3rd. The 15-point Buccaneer win started the all-time series in favor of the Lowcountry. A slim CSU roster that night limited the Bucs to only playing seven players – one of which being Reis Jones. Jones recorded six points and four boards in the 2024-25 contest.
Tuesday's contest would be attended by over 4,000 young students from Martin and surrounding Tennessee towns. In front of countless members of the Volunteer State's youth, the Bucs showcased a competitive effort despite struggling from three-point range like they did in their previous match-up just four days prior at South Carolina. Shooting 24% from downtown, the Buccaneer defense had to keep CSU in the ball game, and that they did – for a while. Holding the hosting Skyhawks to a 33% shooting mark from the field in the first-half, CSU entered the halftime locker room only trailing by five (31-36).
The second half would remain a tightly contested battle as with 13 minutes to go, the score was knotted at 43-43. A 30-13 run in favor of UT-Martin would hand the Bucs their fifth loss of the season, evening out their overall record to 5-5.
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Notables:
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Luke Williams would lead CSU both in scoring and overall efficiency – scoring 19 points on 6/11 shooting.
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UT-Martin would attempt 32 free-throws compared to CSU's 12.
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Jaquias Franklin would play the most minutes he's seen in a single game since Nov. 13 – playing 23 minutes and scoring 8 points.
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Brycen Blaine would record his fifth double-double of the season – scoring 11 points and posting 10 rebounds.
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Up Next:
Charleston Southern will have a quick turn-around before their next contest. They'll host the Warren Wilson Owls on December 4th at 7:00 PM in the Buc Dome. The game is scheduled to be 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.
