CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern used a strong defense to hold down North Greenville as the Bucs won 27-0 in their first home game of the 2008 season, Saturday. All 27 points for CSU (1-3) were scored in the second and third quarter as the Bucs distanced themselves from the Crusaders (1-4).

The CSU defense forced eight punts, and Philip Ashley intercepted his first pass of the season as the defense held North Greenville to just 120 total yards on 50 plays. With the interception, Ashley, who returned the pick for 81 yards, is now tied for fifth all-time in school history with six career interceptions.

Meanwhile, the offense tallied 372 yards of offense, including 216 through the air from senior quarterback Tribble Reese, who finished 17-27 on the day with a pair of touchdown passes. The Bucs pounded out 156 yards on the ground as well, the most for the CSU rushing attack since Oct. 6, 2007, when they rushed for 272 yards against Savannah State. Antwan Ivey led the way on the ground as the freshman had 71 yards on 15 carries. Transfer T.J. Latimore added 38 yards on seven carries.

CSU held NGU quarterback Richard Harb to just 11-24 passing for 88 yards, sacking him three times. Okeba Rollinson led the way with six tackles, while Justin Witzmann, Andrew McKain and Jake Killeen tallied the three sacks. CSU got into the back a total of nine times to stop the Crusaders for a loss. Emmanuel Davis and Nick Rosamonda each had 10 tackles for North Greenville.

In the first quarter, Charleston Southern tried to establish a rushing attack, carrying it 11 times. Neither team was able to get any points on the board, but CSU held the ball for 13:55 of the 15:00 quarter, setting up a 44-yard field goal by John Paglia early in the second to open the scoring. After a three-and-out, CSU would again march down the field, this time taking just 1:51 and three plays to march 63 yards for another score to make it 10-0.

Just before halftime, Paglia would add another field goal, this time from 26 yards out to send CSU to the break with a 13-0 lead.

Receiving the ball to start the second half, CSU used another three-play drive, this time going 62 yards for the touchdown. After a 23-yard pass to Alex Neal moved the ball across midfield, Reese found Gerald Stevenson for 43-yards and the score, making it 20-0. The final score was a nine-play, 60-yard drive, 33 of which came from Ivey, who was able to punch it in from four-yards out.

The biggest threat to CSU's shut out came in the second quarter when the Crusaders started on the CSU 39 yardline. NGU was able to get it to first and 10 on the 13 yardline, but Ashley's interception ended the threat and preserved the CSU shut out, the first since last year's Oct. 6 game against Savannah State.

CSU will stay at home to face Gardner-Webb on Oct. 4 at 1:30 p.m.