CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston Southern men's basketball fell at home Thursday night, losing 81-70 to visiting North Florida. Thursday's loss breaks the 2-2 series tie in favor of the Ospreys.

THE WORLD OF RJ
Sophomore guard RJ Johnson has had a strong showing early in the campaign and Thursday's contest served as a career day. Johnson went for a team-high, and career-high, 25 points on 9-16 shooting from the field. Johnson also collected four dimes as well as a steal in 33 minutes on the floor for the Bucs. 

DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
Taje' Kelly has also been loud to start his junior season, recording his second double-double in as many games with 19 points and 12 boards. Kelly had 10 of his 12 rebounds come on the defensive half of the floor and seven of his 19 points came from the charity stripe.
 
TALE OF TWO HALVES
Charleston Southern took a four-point lead into the halftime break after a strong 8-0 run down the stretch of the first half. The Bucs shot 52% from the field in the first half while holding North Florida to just 35%. The 8-0 run through the middle of the half saw Johnson take over, as a few buckets as well as his one steal came in that timeframe.
 
The second half saw things go back and forth through the first segment of the half before North Florida was able to hit shots down the stretch while getting enough stops to completement the offensive push. The Ospreys were able to knock down 50% of their shots from deep to pace the offense.

WINNING THE PAINT
Charleston Southern was able to continue to dominate the paint scoring this season, as the Bucs outscored North Florida 34-26 in the paint. The contest makes the second time in as many games that the Bucs were able to outscore their opponent in the painted area.
 
UNBALANCED SCORING
The Bucs saw 55 of its 70 total points come from three different players, led by Johnson's 25. Kelly added 19 and DJ Patrick collected 11 points after missing time in the first half due to foul trouble. The next-closest Buccaneer was A'lahn Sumler with six. That group of four stood as the only four to make multiple shots from the floor, as Johnson's nine makes were also a team high.

UP NEXT
The Bucs continue the homestand as they play hosts to their second non-D1 opponent of the young season in the form of Johnson & Wales. The meeting will stand as the sixth time the two programs have met with CSU taking each of the first five. Tip for the contest is set for 7:00 p.m. Monday, November 13 at the Buc Dome.