CSU Tops Mauricio Baez, 67-55

SANTO DOMINGO, D.R. – Jeremy Sexton scored a game-high 19 points and Charleston Southern used a late 9-0 run to pull away from Club Mauricio Baez for a 67-55 win on Wednesday night in Santo Domingo.

Sheldon Strickland added nine points, while Allie Fullah, Paul Gombwer, and Joe Williams each helped control the paint for the Bucs as they wrapped up their trip to the Dominican Republic at a perfect 3-0.

The first of Strickland’s three three-pointers gave CSU its first advantage of the opening period at 12-10, but Mauricio Baez responded with ten straight markers to take a 21-12 lead into the second quarter. CSU trimmed its deficit to three at halftime, and forged a three-point cushion after three quarters before pulling away in the final stanza.

Leading 52-48 in the opening stages of the fourth quarter, Gombwer came up with a follow off an offensive rebound to jumpstart a 9-0 spurt which proved too much for Mauricio Baez to overcome. Sexton followed with a layup and Fullah capped the decisive sequence with one of his own, as Mathiang Muo provided the highlight in between with a long three.

“Tonight was another challenge,” CSU Head Coach Barclay Radebaugh said. “We played a team that plays five guards most of the game. They spread the floor and drive the ball. They presented many match-up problems for us and also hurt us in transition. We got in serious foul trouble and had to play with an unconventional lineup for most of the 2nd and 3rd quarter.

“After a slow start, our team really battled. We started guarding the ball with more conviction, got back in transition, and rebounded well. Allie, Paul, and Joe are such tenacious rebounders. They are relentless around the rim. Jeremy was terrific on the offensive end. He has worked extremely hard all summer and you could see it in our three games in the Dominican. Sheldon was terrific also. He has really improved in many areas of his game.”

Sexton was instrumental in helping the Bucs take the lead for good in the third quarter. Following a Joe Williams putback to open CSU’s second half scoring, Sexton recorded seven of the Bucs’ next eight points, setting the stage for Malcolm Bernard’s layup to seize the lead for good at 43-42. Saah Nimley scored all six of his points consecutively to end the third and help CSU enter the fourth with more breathing room.

The 9-0 fourth quarter run ensured CSU would end its trip 3-0, as Strickland’s final triple and a Fullah three-point play provided the exclamation point on a 12-point win.
 
“From a basketball standpoint our trip has served as a great learning tool,” Radebaugh said. “We learned a lot about our team and were exposed in a few areas. I really like this group. We could have come down here and played bad teams. Instead, we asked for the best they had to offer, and we were seriously challenged. This experience will really help us as we start to prepare for the 2012-13 season.”

For an individual statistical breakdown of the Bucs’ balanced effort, see below.

Player                     Points/Rebounds
Sheldon Strickland   9, 0
Saah Nimley            6, 3
Jeremy Sexton        19, 1
Joe Williams            7, 5
Paul Gombwer        6, 6
Malcolm Bernard    7, 3
Mathiang Muo        5, 2
Cedrick Bowen      0, 2
Allie Fullah             7, 7
Mitchell Deter         0,0