Butler Leads Team With 18 Pts., Cougars Pick Up Win In First CAA Contest

Jeff Walker, Sports Writer

After concluding the non-conference schedule with a 9-4 record the College of Charleston men's basketball team entered the CAA portion of the season as they travelled to take on the Pride of Hofstra University Thursday night. Last season's CAA winner and the pre-season favorite, CofC have a target on their back with opposing teams hoping to do as much damage to the Cougars record as possible.

Although it was a battle for 40 minutes the home team couldn't quite hold on, surrendering a two possession lead, as Charleston found some late game offense including a couple of big threes from Ante Brzovic, part of a 20-4 run, over the final six minutes,  on route to a 73-61 win over the Pride.

Bryce Butler lead four Cougars in double figures, as the graduate transfer player from Latrobe Pa ended with a career best 18 points for Charleston. Brzovic who was quiet for most of the contest finished with 13 points, with Frankie Policelli and Reyne Smith adding 11 and 10 respectively. C.J. Fulton matched his season-high with eight assists. The junior ranks 24th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio.

Butler admits he relishes his role with the Cougars. "I like coming in off the bench, getting a feel for everything that's happening in the game." Coming off a 15 point outing against Montreat last Friday night Butler says he's finding his way in a Cougar uniform. "I'm getting more comfortable. A lot goes into preparation." Finishing 7 of 10 overall including 2 of 3 from long range Butler admits he was locked in. "Tonight was just my night."

Charleston head coach Pat Kelsey echoed Butler's assessment. "Bryce is flat out a basketball player. He's a great leader." Kelsey adds, "He and Frankie Policelli played phenomenal tonight."

Shooting better than 80 percent early on the Cougars jumped out to a 16-4 advantage inside the first five minutes of action before the Pride found their game, cutting the margin to a couple of possessions. Up by 11 (24-13) midway through the period Hofstra closed out the first half on a 19-10 run to trail 34-32 at the break.

A short jumper by Tyler Thomas gave Hofstra their first lead (36-34) before Policelli fired a triple to re-right the ship. Before the first media time-out during the second half Hofstra got behind a 13-7 run to enjoy a 45-41 advantage with 15:34 remaining in the contest. Charleston would answer using an 8-0 run including four from Butler to regain the lead. With under 12 minutes to go it was tied at 47 all.

Three missed field goal attempts by Charleston combined with several missed from long range soon found the Cougars trailing by two possessions. However a late 14-0 run by CofC found them up 67-57 with just under three minutes remaining on the clock.

The Pride would cut it to six points but big threes from Brzovic and a couple from the line by Smith sealed the victory for Charleston. The Cougars extend their winning streak to six games, with Stony Brook on tap Saturday.

Three Hofstra players finished in double figures with Thomas scoring a game best 21 points, adding three from beyond the arc. A remarkable stat considering he played the entire 40 minutes. Darlinstone Dubar went 7 of 17 from the floor for 20 points while hauling in a game best 12 rebounds, with Carlos Jaquan adding 14 points for the Pride.

Two stats made the difference. The Cougars connected on 12 of 32 (38%) from long range with the Pride making just 6 of 30 (20%). The real damage came off the bench where the Cougars had a decisive 29-0 advantage.

Coach Kelsey spread the kudos all around. "I give my assistant coaches a lot of credit. Hofstra is very difficult to prepare for. Those three minutes we got together at the half before we talk to the players, I said I thought we were playing better than this and we were only up by two points."

Coach adds, "We got into a little lull with nine minutes to go. But we didn't lose our morale. We challenged our guys and they stepped up, and made big shots down the stretch." He included Brzovic in that equation. "He wasn't haven't his best game until the final five minutes. That happens. But Ante is a big time player and he made some big time plays when we needed them the most."

The Cougars improve to 10-4 on the season and 1-0 in the CAA. Charleston will hope to go 2-0 in conference play as they stay on Long Island to play Stony Brook Saturday evening. Action is set for 6:30 p.m.