Date: Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021
Time: 1 p.m.
Site: Charleston, S.C. (TD Arena)
Web Stream:  FloSports
Audio Stream:  88.5 WCUG Radio (Scott Miller - pxp)
Live Statistics: CSUCougars.com
All-Time Record: First ever meeting 
 

• Columbus State (5-6, 5-6) is coming off a crucial 70-69 victory on the road Monday night against Lander University. Lorenzo Anderson hit the go-ahead jumper with two seconds on the clock to knock off the defending PBC champions. The junior guard finished the night with 14 points, thanks to a 6-for-7 shooting performance.

• Hunter Preston, the Cougars' leading scorer, had an impressive performance against the Bearcats. The senior tied a season-high with 25 points after going 5-for-5 from beyond the arc. Preston is averaging 13.7 points and is shooting 44.9% to pace the CSU offense.

• It was the first win of the year for CSU when getting outrebounded (43-32) and also the first time in five games the Cougars posted a 3-point percentage above 37% (40%, 8-for-20).

• Columbus State added to its block total on Monday rejecting eight more shots. The Cougars are now fourth at the Division II level in blocks per game (5.1). Individually, Nelson Haskin is 18th in the nation and second in the PBC averaging 1.73 swats per night.

• The Cougars are also 12th in the nation in 3-point field goal defense (29.9%) and 14th in offensive rebounds per game (13.73).

• Saturday will be Columbus State's first non-conference game of the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019-20, CSU went 7-4 outside of PBC play.

• Columbus State's last regular-season game against a DI opponent was on Nov. 24, 2009, against Alabama State. The Cougars dropped the game 64-58.

• The College of Charleston had to shuffle its schedule around following COVID-19 postponements as well. The Cougars had a trip planned to Hofstra before the weekend plans changed.

• CofC is 8-9 this year, including having a 6-4 record in Colonial Athletic Association play. Charleston has played the majority of its games at home this year, holding a 7-6 mark in TD Arena.

• Zep Jasper and Payton Willis are the main scoring threats for the Cougars. Jasper leads the team with a 15.0 scoring average, while Willis is the deep threat as the guard is shooting 43% from long range with a team-high 37 made 3's.

• As a team, Charleston shoots at 37.7% clip from beyond the arc, which leads the CAA. However, the Cougars rank second to last in 3-point defense allowing opponents to shoot 35.0%.

• Charleston did lose its last time out to Elon University on Feb. 14, but the Cougars have been hot. CofC won the previous three games before the 66-55 set back.

• CofC's head coach Earl Grant is very familiar with Columbus State and the Peach Belt Conference. In his playing days, Grant helped Georgia College to back-to-back PBC Championships in 1999 and 2000.