CHARLESTON, S.C. – Monday evening, Charleston Southern hosted the Hornets of Morris College in the Bucs' first men's basketball home game of the 2024-25 season.
After two games on the road at Clemson and North Florida, Head Coach Saah Nimley led his Bucs basketball program onto their Buc Dome floor to compete in front of a heavy handful of CSU faithful. The Bucs had the opportunity to gain their first win of the season and that they did, defeating Morris College 108-50.
As a group, Charleston Southern impressed with their ability to share the ball and always make the extra pass. Six Buccaneers dished out three or more assists, a threshold they did not cross in any contest last season. When asked what stood out to him from the game and is something he knows he does not have to constantly preach to his roster, Coach Nimley responded,
"The ball movement… the result of that is 23 assists."
23 of CSU's 38 made field goals were off an assist.
Those 38 made field goals only took 71 attempts to obtain. That 54 percent shooting clip is the most efficient the Bucs have shot the ball all season.
Charleston Southern size advantage was capitalized on as the Bucs out-rebounded Morris College 56-25. Not only were those extra boards snagged by CSU, those rebounds turned into 23 second-chance points for the home team.
Several Buccaneers had impressive nights statistically. WRAPSTAR Player of the Game, Jaylon Gibson, scored 17 points, brought down 10 rebounds, missed on one of his seven field goal attempts, all while only playing 22 minutes. When asked about Gibson's performance, Coach Nimley commented,
"Jaylen had a great game. His motor was running tonight, and when that cat's motor is running, he is an animal."
Taje' Kelly led the Bucs in the scoring column for the second game in a row with 22 points. Kelly also added 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and an 8/11 shooting performance to his Monday night contribution to the CSU win.
Transfer guards, Lamar Oden Jr. and Daylen Berry contributed on both sides of the ball for the Bucs as Oden Jr. once again reached the double-figure mark in scoring (11 points), while Berry collected four steals on the defensive end.
The Bucs' freshman guard tandem of Keenan Wilkins and Anthony Gause left every CSU supporter with a smile as the two showed glimpses of what the future of Bucs basketball may look like. Wilkins finished the ball game with 17 points, shooting 7 of 15 from the field. Gause, who made his Buccaneer debut Monday night, thoroughly impressed offensively. In only 19 minutes of play, Gause poured in 19 points (second team-high), four assists, and only one turnover. A question about the freshman guards arose in the post game press conference where Coach Nimley was asked to describe the dynamic difference in style he has at his disposal with Wilkins and Gause on his roster.
"Keenan (Wilkins) makes me comfortable." Nimley stated, "The kid does what any coach asks him to do. Ant (Gause) is a supreme talent. He's got to work on some things, particularly on the defensive side of the ball… he's going to be a really good player in that Charleston Southern jersey."
A fulfilling win was needed as the Bucs get back on the road later this week as they head to White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia to compete in the Greenbrier Tip-Off event. CSU will face UT-Rio Grande Valley on Friday afternoon (1 pm) with a second round game to follow Saturday (Nov. 16).
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