CHARLESTON, S.C. – With only three games left in the regular season, the Charleston Southern men's basketball traveled to North Carolina to face the number one ranked team in the conference standings, the High Point Panthers.

This would serve as the 50th all-time match-up between the two schools and the 5th match-up in the Panthers semi-new (opened in 2021) home arena, the Qubein Center.

The Panthers' home court familiarity was visible early on as the team shot 53.3% from the field in the first half. CSU's RJ Johnson would lead the Bucs early as he would enter the halftime locker room with 10 points and 3 assists.

Although CSU would shoot the same percentage they have on average all season (42%), High Point's top-five offensive efficiency in the nation would continue as they would make 57.6% of their 59 shot attempts (their 4th best mark on the year).

Two of the match-up's premier big men, CSU's Reis Jones and HPU's Juslin Bodo Bodo were tied for 4th in the Big South in total blocks (36). In Wednesday's contest, both guys would add two more to their season tally, and are currently tied for 3rd in the conference.

After 40 minutes of competition, High Point would take home their ninth straight victory this regular season, 83-60.

On the Buccaneer box score, three CSU players scored in double figures, the same three that did so in this year's first match-up against the Panthers: Daylen Berry (15 points), Taje' Kelly (14 Points), and RJ Johnson (14). Johnson would also finish just one assist shy of tying his 8-assist career-high. 

The Buccaneers final home game of the season is this Saturday as CSU will host the USC Upstate Spartans at 2 PM. The game will also serve as the men's basketball Senior Day as Taje' Kelly and DJ Patrick will be honored along with graduate students, Jaylon Gibson and Lamar Oden Jr.

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