Highlight Jams Take Down The Rams In Home Opener

CHARLESTON, S.C.: The Charleston Southern men’s basketball team bounced back from a 0-2 start with an impressive home opening win  88-64 over Bluefield College on Nov.15.

Kelvin Martin led the way for the Buccaneers with his first double-double of the season dropping in 18 points, including three jaw-dropping drunks, and snatching 17 boards. Martin also led the team with five steals and five blocks, while logging a Buc-high 35 minutes. Saah Nimley continued his strong early season play, scoring 16 points while giving out a team high five assists. Byron Carpenter led the way for BC with 24 points.

The Bucs outshot the Rams 52%-43%, points in the paint 42-30, and points off of turnovers 28-16.

CSU hopped out to an early 5-2 lead thanks to an electrifying dunk by Cedrick Bowen off of a steal. Bowen followed the dunk with another steal which led to a Paul Gombwer lay up off an assist by Jeremy Sexton. Chris Grier would hit a jumper off of an offensive rebound to give the Bucs a ten point advantage with 12:54 left. Defensive Player of The Year Kelvin Martin had a huge block which started the Buccaneer attack that ended with a lay up by Paul Gowmber to give the Buccaneers the 20-9 lead with 11:19 left in the first. Arlon Harper worked for a steal and got rewarded on the offensive end with a long three to put the Bucs up 23-9. Bowen would snatch a rebound and dish it to a cutting Saah Nimley who would put it in to give the Bucs a 37-16 advantage with 4:58 left in the first half. On the next Buccaneer position Bowen would grab yet another board, this time he would take it himself and slam it in to put CSU up 39-16. Arlon Harper intercepted a pass at 3:33 and went coast to coast for the slam to give CSU the 23 point edge. Full court pressure at the 2:05 mark would force the Rams to turn the ball over near their basket; Cedrick Bowen would make them pay with another powerful dunk. A last second heave by Bluefield flew into the stands, and the half ended with Charleston Southern up 52-25. Eight Buccaneers scored in the first half, led by Cedrick Bowen’s 12 (5-6) to go along with two rebounds. Arlon Harper went 4-5 from the field including 1-2 from deep for his 11. Kelvin Martin had nine rebounds, four of them on the offensive end. Byron Carpenter had 15 for the Rams going 5-10 from the field. CSU outshot BC 66.7%-32% from the field while holding the Bucs to only 20% from deep. Along with Harper, Paul Gowmber’s 10 helped the Buccaneer bench outscore BC’s 24-3.

A flagrant foul by BC’s Ted O’Boute put Jeremy Sexton on the line to start the second half; Sexton split the pair to give CSU the 53-25 lead early in the 2nd. The Buccaneers first field goal of the second half would come off of a deep three by Saah Nimley at the 17:00 mark. A put back at the 15:42 mark by Kelvin Martin would extend the CSU cushion to 30, 62-32. Kelvin Martin would bring the Buccaneer Field House to their feet with a highlight-reel dunk at the 13:00 minute mark. Saah Nimley would showcase his handle before dropping a floater over the Ram’s defense at the 10:30 mark to put CSU up 69-44.  Bluefield would not go down easily as a lay up by Byron Carpenter at the 4:55 mark would cut down the CSU lead to 14. Martin would bring the fans to their feet yet again with another strong dunk, followed by a lay up to make it 76-58 Bucs with 3:13 left.  Martin would then flex his defensive muscle with a block which he would take the length of the court to get a lay up and one with 2:44 remaining. Martin would end his stellar game with two late free throws closing out the Bluefield 88-64.

The victory brings CSU to 1-2 on the year; The Buccaneers will be in action next against Milligan College on Nov.19 at 7:30 p.m. in Charleston.