Charleston S.C. - Charleston Southern (3-3, 0-0) moved back to the .500 mark after a late comeback over the University of North Florida Ospreys (0-5, 0-0) Friday, at the CSU Field House. The Buccaneers trailed for the entire second half before a 17-6 run that sent the game into overtime. CSU outscored the Ospreys 12-4 in the extra period on route to a 68-60 win.

Jamarco Warren and Omar Carter paced the Bucs with 15 points each, including a three from each, late in regulation. Freshman Joel Lamb provided a much needed spark on offense with 11 points on 4-5 shooting. Tovi Bailey made a key three pointer in overtime and ended up with 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. The Osprey's Cortez Riley led all scorers with 21 points before fouling out in overtime.

CSU has performed well on offense so far this year, but they got off to a slow start in the first half. Billy Blackmon and Warren were able to finish at the rim early, but the Bucs would face their biggest deficit of the game at the 10:12 mark, with a 7-20 score.

CSU looked to their bench to provide some instant offense and Austin Johnson delivered with a pair of jumpers to cut the lead to six. Also off the bench, Lamb provided one of his timely threes at the end of the first half, to help the Bucs narrow the margin to just two at the half with a 25-27 score.

In the second half, CSU cut the lead to one several times, including a jumper from Johnson to put it at 37-38 in the11th minute. The Ospreys bounced back to manage a 12-2 run with just 5:47 left to play in regulation.

The difference at the end of the game for the Bucs was the ability to convert on free throws. CSU went 4-4 from the line in the final two minutes. The Ospreys missed two straight one and ones, and CSU followed up with a three on both occasions. Carter hit a three with just 36 seconds left to play to tie things up at 56 apiece. The Bucs were able to get a big stop when it counted, and a Lamb block at the buzzer sent it into overtime.

The Bucs took the momentum from the end of regulation and went on to dominate in overtime, outscoring North Florida 12-4. CSU controlled the possession for the first minute of OT thanks to a pair of offensive boards from Blackmon, but they were unable to find the bottom of the net. The Ospreys took the lead the next possession, but it was short lived as Omar Carter answered right back with a three to put the score at 59-58. That three gave CSU just their second lead of the game, their first coming in the first half with a 6-4 score.

It was all Bucs after that point, as Bailey put up five straight points, including a big three with 47 seconds left, to put CSU up 64-58. Carter, Bailey, and JT Knight were able to hit some pressure foul shot down the stretch, sealing a 68-60 win and capping off a dramatic comeback for the Buccaneers.

After five straight home games, CSU will hit the road, playing in an early conference game at High Point on Monday, December 1st, at 7:30.