Southern Conference Basketball

Davidson Drops First SoCon Game of the 2011-12 Season

For the first time this season, Southern Conference power Davidson dropped a game, as the Samford Bulldogs pulled off a 77-74 upset of the Wildcats at a jam-packed Pete Hanna Center on Saturday night.

The win snapped Davidson's 13-game SoCon regular-season winning streak, while also marking the Bulldogs third-straight home triumph. Samford is now 4-1 on its home floor in its last five outings. Samford's win over Davidson snapped a Wildcat regular-season winning streak against SoCon foes, which dated back to Feb. 12, 2011, which was an 88-79 setback at Furman.

The win was historic for Samford, who garnered its first win over the Wildcats in school history. Jeffrey Merritt led five Bulldogs in double figures in the contest, posting 20 points to tie for game-high honors. Merritt connected on 6-of-12 shots from the field, including a perfect 4-for-4 from three, and 4-for-7 from the charity stripe to account for his 20-point night. Also in double figures for the Bulldogs were: Drew Windler (15 points), Raijon Kelly (12 points), Connor Miller (12 points) and Will Cook (10 points).

For the sixth consecutive game, center Jake Cohen scored 20 or more points in a game, as he connected on 8-of-13 shots from the field and was 4-for-6 from the charity stripe. Cohen was one of three Wildcats in double figures, with point guard Nik Cochran posting 18 points, while wing guard J.P. Kuhlman finished the 14.

The win improves Samford to 7-13 overall and 4-5 in league play, putting the Bulldogs right back in the thick of the North Division race. The loss drops Davidson to 15-5 overall on the campaign and 9-1 in league play.

Furman Wins Fifth-Straight Over The Citadel

GREENVILLE, S.C.—For the first time in school history, Furman recorded back-to-back victories over the College of Charleston and The Citadel since the Cougars joined the league as an official member in 1998-99. On Thursday night, Furman posted a 69-63 win at College of Charleston and the Paladins followed that up Saturday evening by claiming a 67-58 win at The Citadel.

Furman had a team-high 12 points off the bench from senior forward Colin Reddick, while his twin brother Charlie Reddick added 11. Brandon Sebirumbi scored in double figures for the sixth straight game, with 10 points, in leading the Paladins to their third straight road win and fourth win in the last five games.

The Citadel was led by SoCon leading scorer Mike Groselle, who posted a game-high 24 points and 11 boards to complete his league-leading 11th double-double performance of the 2011-12 season.  

Appalachian State Starting To Make Its Move

With its 81-66 win over North Division leading Elon on Saturday afternoon, Appalachian State is starting to make its move to the top of the North Division after a somewhat slow start in league play.

The Mountaineers had 20 points apiece from Jamaal Trice and Omar Carter to post the big win over the visiting Phoenix in front of 2,355 fans at the Holmes Convocation Center on Saturday afternoon. Carter scored his 20 points coming off the Mountaineer bench on Saturday afternoon.

Five teams remain in contention for the top two spots in the SoCon North, which, in turn, will receive byes in the upcoming Southern Conference Tournament in Asheville.

The win improves the Mountaineers' overall slate to 9-11 and league ledger to 5-5, while Elon drops to 10-10 overall and 5-4 in the SoCon. The two teams will meet again on the hardwood on Feb. 6 at Alumni Gym, as the Apps will go for their eighth-straight win over the Phoenix in the series. 

Elon, who came into the contest as the top team in the SoCon's North Division, was seemingly helpless in the second half against a Mountaineer team that shot a scorching 76 percent in the second half of play en route to their fifth SoCon win of the 2011-12 season. ASU now sits in just a half-game behind division leading UNC-Greensboro. 

Elon was led in Saturday's game by Jack Isenbarger. He led the Phoenix with 20 points, doing most of his damage on three-pointers, knocking down four from long range off the Elon bench. Lucas Troutman led Elon on the backboards, pulling down 10 boards in the contest. 

Wofford Wins Fifth Straight, Defeats Cremins-less Charleston

With its 68-59 setback to Wofford on Saturday afternoon at TD Arena, College of Charleston now has lost four straight games in SoCon play for the first time since the 2007-08 season.

Meanwhile, the two-time defending champion Terriers remain red-hot, posting their fifth-straight win on Saturday and their seventh victory in their last nine outings, and now hold a firm grip on second place in the SoCon's South Division. The win means the Terriers record the regular season sweep over CofC and have now won three straight against its Palmetto State and South Division arch-rival.

The win sees the Terriers improve their overall mark to 14-8 on the season and 7-3 in SoCon play. The loss, which is Charleston's ninth in its last 11 games, drops the Cougars to 12-9 overall and 4-6 in league play, now sitting in fifth place in the South Division standings heading into a three-game road trip, which begins on Monday night with a trip to red-hot Samford.

Mark Byington, who took over as the Cougars' interim head coach upon Bobby Cremins' medical leave, drops to 0-1 as the head coach. Byington is the second assistant coach to transition into interim head coach this season, with UNCG's Wes Miller stepping into that same role after Mike Dement resigned in mid-December. 

Wofford was led in the victory by three players posting double-figure scoring performances, as senior point guard Brad Loesing led the trio with 18 points, while talented freshman Karl Cochran added 15 and leading scorer Kevin Giltner chipped in 13.

Charleston was led in scoring in the contest by Trent Wiedeman's 18 points, while Antwaine Wiggins and Nori Johnson added 14 and 13 points, respectively, in the losing effort. 

The Terriers held the Cougars to just 20.7% percent shooting from the field to take a 28-19 lead to the half. The series sweep for the Terriers was their first since joining the SoCon as an official member in the 1997-98 season. 

Georgia Southern Records Season Sweep Of Mocs On Hewitt Buzzer-Beater

With its 75-72 win over Chattanooga on Saturday evening at the McKenzie Arena, Georgia Southern recorded the season sweep of the Mocs and also posted their third league road win of the season after entering the campaign with a 26-game road losing skid. 

With the win, Georgia Southern kept pace with second place Wofford, moving to 9-12 overall and 7-4 in league play to remain a half-game behind Wofford in the SoCon's South Division. The loss dropped the preseason North Division favorite Chattanooga Mocs to last place in the North Division, with a 9-14 overall mark and a 3-7 ledger in league play. 

Georgia Southern clawed back from a 72-70 deficit in the final minute, with Jelani Hewitt, who led the Eagles with 16 points on the evening, answering a Ricky Taylor jumper to tie the contest, 72-72. After the Mocs missed a layup on the ensuing possession, the Eagles got the rebound and senior guard Willie Powers pushed the ball quickly into the forecourt and found a wide open Hewitt at the elbow, and his fourth three-pointer of the night as time expired gave the Eagles the thrilling win.

Chattanooga won a game in a similar situation earlier this season, as Dontay Hampton drove the length of the floor and layed the ball in off the glass with only seven-tenths of a second remaining, helping the Mocs to a 65-63 win over Appalachian State.  

GSU's Hewitt was joined in double figures by Eric Ferguson and Tre Bussey, who added 15 and 13 points, respectively. Chattanooga was led by Drazen Zloravic's double-double of 16 points and 10 boards, while Keegan Bell matched Zloravic for team-high scoring honors with 16 points. Chattanooga squandered a 12-point halftime advantage in the home floor loss. 

UNCG Claims Sixth Straight Win Under Wes Miller

UNCG needed an extra five minutes for the second time in as many games to decide Saturday's outcome against Western Carolina, as the Spartans posted an 89-86 win on Saturday afternoon at the Greensboro Coliseum to move into sole possession of first place in the SoCon North Division. It was UNCG's sixth-straight win, while the Catamounts dropped their seventh game in their last nine outings, and have now lost three straight.

With the win, UNCG improves to 8-14 overall and 6-4 in SoCon play, while Western Carolina falls to 9-13 overall and 3-6 in the league, and now are in sole possession of fifth-place in the Southern Conference. UNCG also played an overtime contest with Appalachian State on Thursday night, eventually posting a 77-73 win. 

It appeared the Spartans were well on their way to a win, leading 67-63 with 19 seconds left. A three-pointer by WCU's Keaton Cole made it a 67-66, but UNCG's Trevis Simpson, who led the Spartans with 26 points, added a pair of free throws and gave the Spartans a 69-66 lead once again with nine seconds left.

Cole found himself with the ball in his hands once again, and his three-pointer to tie the game with two seconds was no good; however, he was fouled in the act of shooting and knocked down all three charity shots to tie the game, 69-69, and force the extra session.

UNCG outscored the Catamounts 20-17. Talented guard and reigning SoCon Player of the Week Derrell Armstrong added 23 points off the bench for the Spartans, while Drew Parker scored 11 to round out the double-figure scorers for the Spartans.

Forward David Williams had a monster game on the boards, ripping down a career-best 18 caroms. He also had seven points and three blocks.

WCU was led by Trey Sumler's 22 points, while Cole added 18, with 15 of those points coming on perimeter shots. Harouna Mutombo and Tawaski King rounded out the Catamounts in double figures, with 14 and 12 points, respectively. 

SoCon Standings (Jan. 29), Conference Record and Overall Record

North
UNCG	6-4						8-14	.
Elon	5-4						10-10
Appalachian State	5-5						9-11
Samford	4-5						7-13
Western Carolina	3-6						9-13
Chattanooga	3-7						9-14
South
Davidson	9-1						15-5
Wofford	7-3						14-8
Georgia Southern	7-4						9-12
Furman	5-5						11-10
College of Charleston	4-6						12-9
Citadel	1-9						4-17

Coming Up This Week:

College of Charleston at Samford (Jan. 30)

Western Carolina at Wofford (Jan. 30)

Davidson at Furman (Feb. 1)

Samford at Appalachian State (Feb. 2)

College of Charleston at Elon (Feb. 2)

The Citadel at UNC Greensboro (Feb. 2)

Chattanooga at Western Carolina (Feb. 2)

College of Charleston at Appalachian State (Feb. 4)

Chattanooga at Davidson (Feb. 4)

The Citadel at Elon (Feb. 4)

UNC Greensboro at Furman (Feb. 4)

Georgia Southern at Western Carolina (Feb. 4)

Samford at Wofford (Feb. 4)

 Elon (10-9, 5-3) at Appalachian State (8-11, 4-5), 2 p.m.

GAME PREVIEW:

Elon heads to Appalachian State for an important North Division clash on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gym in what will be the first of two meetings between the two this season. The Mountaineers are coming off a heartbreaking 77-73 overtime loss at UNCG on Thursday night, while the Phoenix were able to score an important road win at Western Carolina with a 71-63 victory over the Catamounts to remain atop the North Division standings.

The Mountaineers claimed both of last season's meetings between the two and have won six straight in the series. ASU was able to gut out a 68-62 win at Elon last season, while posting a 79-71 victory in Boone. The last time the Phoenix tasted victory against the Apps came back in the 2007-08 season, claiming a 76-70 win at Alumni Gym. Saturday's meeting between the two will mark the 92nd all-time meeting between the Phoenix and Mountaineers, with ASU holding a 50-41 all-time series edge.

In ASU's loss at UNCG on Thursday night, the Mountaineers appeared to be in complete control of the contest early on against the red-hot Spartans, leading by as many as 17 points in the opening half of play. However, UNCG would storm all the way back to lead by seven (63-56) with only 1:28 to play. ASU would not be finished, however, and forced overtime, getting a big three-pointer from Mike Neal and a pair of charity shots from Omar Carter to tie the game, 64-64, and force the extra session. 

But UNCG would jump out to a four-point lead in overtime and it would be it would never relinquish as the Spartans claimed their fifth-straight win at ASU's expense. ASU did get a strong performance from SoCon Preseason Player of the Year Omar Carter, who led four Apps in double figures with 19 points. Carter connected on just 3-of-9 shots from the field, but was 12-for-15 from the charity stripe. Carter was joined in double digits by Andre Williamson (13 pts), Jamaal Trice (11 pts) and Tab Hamilton (10 pts).

Omar Carter (13.5 PPG, 6.1 RPG) continues to be the go-to-player for the Apps coming into Saturday afternoon's contest. Last season against the Phoenix, Carter registered two pretty solid performances against them, posting 22 points in the 79-71 win at the Holmes Center while posting 17 points in the 68-62 win at Alumni Gym.

Carter has not shot the ball as well from the perimeter this season, having connected on 32.4 percent (22-for-68) of his long-range efforts this season. Carter shot 40 percent from long range last season, connecting on 38-of-95 attempts from long-range last season. Carter has scored in double figures in each of the past two games and three of the last four games for the Apps. 

Joining Carter in the paint will be Jamaal Trice (11.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG) and Andre Williamson (10.5 PPG, ). Trice has been a great addition to the Mountaineers this season and he's one of the newcomers that should give ASU the opportunity to not only compete for a North Division title, but also be a solid contender when the Mountaineers arrive in Asheville in a little over a month for the Southern Conference Tournament. The 6'6", 230-pound forward is a versatile performer, and his ability to step out and hit the perimeter shot makes him especially dangerous. Trice is shooting an impressive 44.0 percent (37-of-84) from three-point range this season for the Apps and his 37 triples lead the team. 

If ASU head coach Jason Capel were to hand out an MVP award to this point in the season, he would probably give that award to Williamson, who is having a tremendous senior season. Williamson has been a force on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor, and with his athleticism he has been able to change shots on the defensive end being one of the SoCon's top shot-blockers.

Williamson leads the league in shot deflections this season, having posted 34 swats this season, thanks in large part to his career-high tying five blocked shots on Thursday night. Williamson recorded solid performances in the two wins over Elon a year ago, posting 12 points in the eight point win in Boone, while posting 11 points in the six point triumph at Alumni Gym. 

Set to start in the backcourt for the Apps on Saturday afternoon for the Black and Gold will be point guard Mike Neal (6.5 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 55 assists) and shooting guard Tab Hamilton (7.9 PPG, 1.5 RPG). Neal has continued to get adapt to his role as the full-time starter at point guard with each game, and now he is clearly the Mountaineers' floor leader. Neal is not a player known for his scoring at the point, but he has the ability to penetrate and create his own shot off the dribble if the situation calls for it. He has also shot the ball at a decent clip from three this season, connecting on 37.5 percent (15-for-40) from three this season. 

Another newcomer that has made a significant difference this season has been Hamilton. The Winston-Salem, N.C. native has the ability to score points in bunches and is a streaky shooter from the perimeter. Hamilton had his best game of the season in the 65-63 loss at Chattanooga a few weeks back. In that contest, Hamilton put up a season-high 22 points in the heartbreaking setback. Hamilton has seen his perimeter shooting cool off significantly as of late, and he is connecting on 37.3 percent (25-for-67) from three-point land this season. 

The top performers off the ASU bench are front court performers Isaac Butts (7.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG) and Nathan Healy (3.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG). Both Butts and Healy have been solid on the interior for the Apps this season. Healy is without question the hardest worker on the team, and he recorded a start the last time out against UNCG and could start this afternoon against the Phoenix. Rounding out the key players coming off the bench for the Mountaineers will be in the backcourt, as Mitch Woods (1.2 PPG, 0.2 RPG) and G.J. Vilarino (3.5 PPG, 1.6 RPG) will add depth in the backcourt. 

Elon enters this afternoon's contest being led in the backcourt this season by sophomore shooting guard Jack Isenbarger (10.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG), who is now starting for the Phoenix rather than coming off the bench. He is coming off a strong performance in a road win at Western Carolina on Thursday night, as he posted a season-high 26 points and was 5-for-8 from three-point range in the win in Cullowhee. Isenbarger is a prolific perimeter outside shooter, and he comes in having connected on 36-for-102 from three-point range (35.3 percent) this season, which leads the team. Isenbarger posted a solid performance in his last trip to the High Country, posting 14 points in Elon's 79-71 loss to Appalachian State.

Joining Isenbarger in the backcourt starting five for the Phoenix on Saturday afternoon will be sensational freshman point guard Austin Hamilton (10.8 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 60 assists), as well as sharp-shooting wing guard Sebastian Koch (8.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG) who's a player that is one of the most versatile in the Elon starting five. Hamilton is averaging 16.5 PPG in his last two outings and is coming off a strong performance in Elon's win at Western Carolina on Thursday night as he posted 13 points and five assists. Koch has the ability to post-up with his size, as well as being a solid shooter from the perimeter this season, having connected on 35 triples this season, which ranks second on the team.

The Phoenix front court will consist of Ryley Beaumont (6.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG) and leading scorer Lucas Troutman (12.5 PPG, 5.3 RPG). Beaumont and Troutman have been solid in the paint this season, especially Troutman, who's playing well on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor this season. Troutman is coming off a 15-point performance against Western Carolina on Thursday night. He had one of his most memorable career performances against Appalachian State last season in the 68-62 loss in Elon, posting 19 points, six rebounds and three blocks.

Coming off the bench, head coach Matt Matheny will look to Roger Dugas (1.8 PPG, 1.4 RPG), Egheos Edomwonyi (2.9 PPG, 2.0 RPG) and Brett Irvin (3.7 PPG, 2.1 RPG) in the paint, giving the Phoenix good depth. In the backcourt, the top player coming off the pine is Drew Spradlin (9.4 PPG, 4.2 RPG), who is an All-Southern Conference performer, who has struggled as of late. When he is on his game, he is one of the league's top wing guards.   

FINAL SCORE: APPALACHIAN STATE 66, ELON 62

Wofford (13-8, 6-3 in Southern Conference) at College of Charleston (12-8, 4-5 in Southern Conference), 3 p.m.

GAME PREVIEW:

In what was supposed to be a blockbuster matchup and a rematch of the 2011 Southern Conference Tournament title game, the game now takes a different twist with the medical leave of absence taken by legendary College of Charleston head coach Bobby Cremins, which was announced Friday.

Cremins, who took over the College of Charleston program in 2006-07, has compiled a 125-68 record  in six seasons, leading the Cougars to league title games in 2007, '09 and '11. The Cougars lost the 2007 title game to Davidson (72-65), while dropping the '09 title game to Chattanooga (80-69) and the '11 game to Wofford (77-67).

With Cremins stepping aside for an indefinite amount of time, Mark Byington will take over. He inherits a team that is licking its woundst, having lost three straight and eight of its last 10 games. The latest loss was particularly disheartening, as C of C lost to a Furman team it beat by 22 points just a few weeks ago. It was C of C's first loss to the Paladins on its home floor since 1953.

The Cougars will face a particularly tall task on Saturday afternoon when they host Wofford at TD Arena. Most remember the Terriers-Cougars matchup from last season's season Southern Conference Tournament title game, which saw the Terriers take a 77-67 win to end the NCAA dreams of Cremins and star guard Andrew Goudelock.

The Cougars did take both regular-season meetings between the two last season, including a 79-54 regular-season rout at the TD Arena. That win allowed the Cougars and Cremins to win the South Division. And with the league's best record of the two division winners, C of C garnered  an automatic invitation to the National Invitational Tournament.

Saturday afternoon's meeting between the Cougars and Terriers will mark the129th renewal of the Palmetto State rivalry, with Wofford holding a 75-53 all-time series edge. C of C has won six of the last 10 meetings between the two South Division foes.

The Cougars meet a Wofford team that was supposed to be rebuilding this season, but has been on fire as of late. The Terriers have won six of their last eight games, including four straight.

Wofford routed the Cougars 75-58 on Jan. 5. It was the play of Wofford freshman guard Karl Cochran (11.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG) that had most people talking. He posted a career-high 21 points, including an emphatic slam dunk that showcased his overall athleticism.

Cochran will be paired with with veteran point guard Brad Loesing (14.2 PPG, 5.1 APG) in the backcourt. Loesing, has been one of the league's top point guards, if not the best, save maybe Chattanooga's Keegan Bell.

Loesing has stepped up his scoring by eight points per game this season, and he ranks third in the league in assists per game, averaging 5.1 per contest. Loesing also ranks third on the team in three-pointers made, with 36 treys this season.

Another of the key pieces returning for Wofford is its leading scorer, Kevin Giltner (16.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG). Now a full-time starter instead of being one of the league's top sixth men, Giltner ranks third in the league in three-pointers made (57/2.5-per game), while ranking fourth overall in scoring. He is coming off a 15-point performance in Wofford's last game, a 62-55 win over The Citadel, and posted a season-high four steals the last time these two teams met.

The Terriers' starting five will be completed by sophomore forward Aerris Smith (4.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG) and senior forward Drew Crowell (9.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG), who has been huge since stepping in to fill the role left by two-time SoCon Player of the Year Noah Dahlman.

All Crowell has done this season is lead the SoCon in field goal percentage, shooting the ball at a 61.1 percent rate (80-of-131). Crowell, who's from Charleston, scored 2 points in his hometown in the first game of the two-game road set at The Citadel on Thursday night. Lee Skinner (5.0 PPG, 5.9 RPG) leads the club on the boards, and Jarrell Byrd (2.5 PPG, 2.3 RPG) has been a key performer off the bench.

Meanwhile, Byington takes over a Cougars team that has resembled an episode of "MASH" of late, with point guard Anthony Stitt (9.7 PPG,1.6 RPG) out for six weeks with a broken hand, while forward Adejhi Baru (8.7 PPG, 5.9 RPG) has been battling a sprained ankle the past few games. Matt Sundberg (6.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG) has also been battling a slight injury of late and has been less than 100 percent.

Byington, who is one of the top assistants in the SoCon, will be given the reins of a team that still has the potential to win the SoCon this season. One of the reasons for that potential is leftover players from the past few successful seasons.

They are Antwaine Wiggins (16.4 PPG, 6.8 RPG), Trent Wiedeman (10.6 PPG, 8.0 RPG) and Andrew Lawrence (12.8 PPG, 2.9 RPG). Wiggins is still considered one of the best defensive players in the league and has stepped up as a scorer this season.

Wiggins and Lawrence are the team's top two perimeter three-point shooters, having knocked down 39 and 38 triples this season. However, the duo has struggled the past couple of games, connecting on just four of their last 24 shots from the perimeter.

Wiedeman has built off his strong freshman season, which saw him garner All-Freshman honors in the league. However, Wiedeman has had trouble keeping himself out of foul trouble. Since taking over at the point guard position, Nori Johnson (5.9 PPG, 1.7 RPG) has shown flashes of brilliance and is one of the team's best athletes.

A loss Saturday would give Charleston a fourth straight loss to a SoCon foe, which hasn't happened since the 2007-08 season, when the Cougars dropped consecutive games to Furman (74-66), UNC Greensboro (88-71), Davidson (70-58) and Wofford (67-66).

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: WOFFORD 68, COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON 65

GREENVILLE, S.C.—In the wake of the 79-72 loss to Wofford on Saturday, Furman sits at 9-10 overall on the season and 3-5 in Southern Conference play. It's certainly a far cry from where the Paladins found themselves last season, as Furman was sitting pretty at 14-5 overall and 6-2 in Southern Conference play, and were coming off an 86-68 win over Chattanooga.

Though a lot may have changed, expectations for success remain the same, despite the Paladins losing four starters to graduation from that squad that won 20 games for the first time in two decades. Prior to the season, head coach Jeff Jackson talked about this team being as good as the one that won 22 games last season. 

The lone returning starter coming into the campaign was post player Brandon Sebirumbi. Sebirumbi has really started to develop into a leader on the 2011-12 edition of the Furman Paladins. Sebirumbi enters Thursday evening's contest against College of Charleston averaging 17.8 PPG and has scored in double figures in four-straight games, leading the Paladins to a 2-2 record over that stretch. He's the only Paladin player averaging in double figures to this point on the season—averaging 10.6 PPG, Sebirumbi was again at it on Saturday afternoon, as he posted 18 points and five boards in the loss to Wofford on Saturday.

Sebirumbi has had to be kind of the leader in the post for the Paladins this season, who have not gotten the production in the front court that some might have desired coming into the season. Colin Anderson (4.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG) and Chris Toler (3.2 PPG, 2.3 RPG) have been more role players this season for the Paladins, and unlike last season, the Paladins have lacked a second scorer in the post. If you look back to last season, the post scoring was a team strength for the Paladins, as Amu Saaka (15.6 PPG) and Noah States (10.4 PPG) were two of the team's three top scorers last season, and the Jackson's 2011-12 club simply does not have that kind of scoring punch.

The Paladins have gotten some solid play out of their front court players which have come off the bench this season, led by Bryant Irwin (7.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG), Bryson Barnes (7.8 PPG, 4.7 RPG) and Dominic Early (4.1 PPG, 1.7 RPG). Irwin, a transfer from St. Joseph's, was originally touted by Jackson to be the great remedy for losing the player of Saaka's status and was thought to be able to fill some of that scoring void left by Saaka.

Jackson admitted that Irwin wouldn't be a player that was going to replace Saaka's athleticism, but he felt like his ability as a perimeter threat could be the "X-factor" in the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Annual's preseason previews, which highlighted the Paladins for the upcoming season.

Irwin, at least initially, looked like he might live up to some of that preseason billing, but has seen his scoring and minutes decrease over the past couple of weeks. His 26 triples this season rank him second on the team in three-pointers made, and has made him a versatile performer with his ability to step out and hit the perimeter jumper. Going into the Wofford game, Irwin had scored a combined two points in three games since a 10-point performance in the win over The Citadel.

Early has looked good at times for the Paladins in the post this season, with his best performance against The Citadel, scoring a career-high 15 points in the win over them. But Early has been inconsistent. Barnes has given the team a definite boost, but has yet to find the kind of game he had in his first game back after serving an academic suspension, in which he scored a career-high 26 points in helping the Paladins to the impressive 76-63 road win at Western Kentucky back on Dec. 17.

The backcourt has been impressive at times this season for the Paladins, but has had to battle injury issues as of late. Both starting point guard Richard Brown (8.8 PPG, 3.3 APG) and backup Jordan Lloyd (3.9 PPG, 2.9 RPG) have had to miss the last couple of games with back spasms, but both are expected back for Thursday night's game against College of Charleston.

Little used David Brown (2.7 PPG, 0.9 APG), who has done a nice job in holding down the starting responsibilities in the absence of Richard Brown and Lloyd the past couple of games. When it's all said and done, it might be David Brown who turns out to be the Paladins' answer at point guard. Richard Brown has not been as aggressive on the offensive side of things as of late, and when he has been asked to be less of a scorer and more of a distributor, he has not been as effective a player.

Lloyd continues to seem to be on the cusp of really being a breakout player this season for the Paladins. He has yet to show the kind of maturity as of yet, in which he's able to limit turnovers and take good shots within the offense. However, when he comes around, Lloyd has the potential to be the best point guard in the Southern Conference.

The real surprise this season for Furman has been the play of Charlie Reddick, who has simply been sensational for the Paladins. Reddick has really stepped up to become a leader for the Paladins this season. He is a tremendous athlete and is one of the league's best perimeter threats, having knocked down 41 triples this season to lead the team, and ranks fourth in the SoCon in three-pointers made.

Reddick's leadership and improvement can be summed up in two games this season for Furman. First, his three-pointer to beat Western Carolina in the waning seconds showed Reddick to be a fearless floor leader. With Western Carolina having forged a tie (55-55) for the first time all afternoon, it was Reddick, who was 0-for-11 from the field previously in the game, who stepped up and knocked down the game-clinching triple, leaving only 1.8 seconds on the clock for the Catamounts. The shot not only showed Reddick to be a fearless leader, but also a confident player that had shed the tentative personality he had at times in his first season as a Paladin.

The second game in which Reddick showed himself to be a real leader and a player ready to take the role of "go-to-scorer" was in the 64-54 win over Georgia Southern last week. Reddick was simply huge, posting 16 points and a career-high 14 rebounds to record his first double-double and help the Paladins to the 10-point win. Reddick posted his second-straight double-figure scoring performance in the loss to Wofford, posting 14 points on 4-of-9 from three and 2-for-2 from the charity stripe.   

Bobby Austin (7.3 PPG, 2.5 RPG) is another player that has been a leader for Furman, and the redshirt senior is having his best season in an injury-plagued career. Austin had his best career performance in the early-January win over The Citadel by posting a career-high 17 points. Austin might Furman's best on-the-ball defender, and he comes into Thursday's game ranking second on the team with 10 blocked shots this season.

Halfway through Southern Conference play, it's clear this isn't the same Furman team that threatened to make its first postseason appearance in 20 years last season. However, it's a Furman team that could still be a dangerous team come tournament time. The main reason that will keep the Paladins in most every game for the rest of the season is the way they can frustrate teams with their defense. The Paladins are a different team in terms of chemistry and talent this season, and this Paladin team has had to work hard for its nine wins this season. Furman isn't going to find an Amu Saaka or Noah States for the remainder of the season, but the good news is the league is nowhere near as strong as it was a year ago. 

The Citadel (4-14, 1-6 SoCon) at Georgia Southern (7-11, 4-3 SoCon), 7 p.m.

There was little time for Georgia Southern to celebrate its huge 64-58 win over College of Charleston in front of more than 3,000 fans at Hanner Fieldhouse, because the Eagles knew they would have to get ready for another South Division tilt just 48 hours later.

Struggling Citadel pays a visit to Hanner Fieldhouse still licking its wounds from an 80-51 whipping on the road at the hands of league-leading Davidson on Saturday night.

It will be the first of two meetings between the teams this season, and it was a 65-53 win over The Citadel at Hanner Fieldhouse that represented Georgia Southern's lone league win of the 2010-11 basketball season. In stark contrast to last season, the Eagles find themselves in prime contention for one of the top two seeds and subsequent first-round bye in the upcoming league tournament.

The Eagles and Bulldogs will be meeting for the 46th time in series history on Monday night, with GSU holding a 26-19 series edge.

Georgia Southern's win over the Cougars on Saturday night was significant, as not only did it bring the Eagles into a second-place tie with the Cougars, it also snapped an eight-game skid to the Cougars. 

It was veteran guard Ben Drayton III (11.4 PPG, 1.9 RPG) who led the Eagles to the 12-point win over the Bulldogs last season, and he has been one of the key figures once again for a much-improved Georgia Southern basketball team that has lost only once at home this season, which was the season-opening 90-81 setback to Valparaiso.

Drayton dropped in a team-high 15 points, as he led three Eagles in double figures in last season's win. Drayton is coming off a solid 11-point performance for the Eagles in the win from this past Saturday night.

Drayton ranks second among active players in the SoCon in career points, having amassed 1,345 career points entering this evening's contest against the Bulldogs. He also ranks 20th on GSU's all-time scroll and needs just one point tonight to move to 19th on the ledger. 

Joining Drayton in double-figures scoring average this season have been talented sophomore forward Eric Ferguson (16.3 PPG, 7.0 RPG) and senior guard Willie Powers (10.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG).

Ferguson, who was a big-time recruit, highly sought after by some big-time programs, including Penn State and UConn, chose to come to Georgia Southern to play for head coach Charlton Young, who is Ferguson's godfather. Eagles fans are elated at his decision, as the 6'7" combo forward has blossomed into one of the best young players in the Southern Conference in his sophomore campaign. 

Ferguson is an electrifying athlete, and he posted his eighth straight double-figure scoring performance against the Cougars on Saturday night, recording a game-high 19 points, with 12 of those points coming off of dunks. Heading into Monday night's tilt, Ferguson currently ranks third in the SoCon in scoring.

Powers has battled injuries, but along with Drayton, he is GSU's veteran-most performer. Powers has 1,191 points to rank 26th on the school's all-time list, and he posted a career-high 27 points in the season-opening loss to Valparaiso. 

Forward Cameron Baskerville (3.9 PPG, 2.7 RPG) and sophomore guard Jelani Hewitt (9.5 PPG, 3.2 RPG) round out a solid starting five for the Eagles this evening. Baskerville is a hard worker in the paint for the Eagles and is active on the defensive end of the floor.

Baskerville will be making his 14th start of the season for the Eagles and recorded one of his best games of the season with seven boards in a loss to Wake Forest. 

Hewitt rounds out the starting five and he has been another player in the GSU lineup that has the ability to be a prolific scorer. Hewitt is the team's most prolific perimeter scorer this season, and he registered a career-high six three-pointers and 20 points in a win over Chattanooga back in early December. For the season, Hewitt has knocked down a team-high 34 treys so far this season.

Coming off the GSU bench, the players for the Eagles this season have been Tyrone Brown (2.8 PPG, 1.3 RPG) and Marvin Baynham (2.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG). Both Baynham and Brown add depth in the frontcourt, with Baynham backing up Baskerville, while Brown serves as Ferguson's understudy.

Baynham has started seven games this season, recording a season-high six points in the season-opening loss to Valparaiso. Two of Brown's best performances of his career have come in league play, matching a career-high eight points in the win at Elon while posting seven points in the loss at Wofford.

In the backcourt, Tre Bussey (6.3 PPG, 1.3 RPG) and Jessie Pernell (1.9 PPG, 1.5 RPG) are the top guards coming off the bench.

The Citadel enters this evening's contest continuing to be led by Mike Groselle (17.2 PPG, 9.4 RPG), who continues to lead the SoCon in scoring and rebounding this season, making a serious case for SoCon Player of the Year accolades.

Groselle has scored 20 or more points in three games this season for the Bulldogs and had 22 points and five boards in the most-recent 80-51 setback at Davidson on Saturday. Groselle posted 17 points in the last meeting against the Eagles, which was a 65-53 loss last February.

Groselle will team with C.J. Bray (6.3 PPG, 2.6 RPG) in the starting five in the post tonight. Bray will be making his 15th start this evening, which is more than any other Bulldog freshman.

The trio of starters in the backcourt for Monday night's South Division showdown will be Cosmo Morabbi (6.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG), Ashton Moore (8.9 PPG, 2.2 RPG) and DeVonte Wright (9.3 PPG, 2.6 RPG).

The experience of Morabbi has been something that head coach Chuck Driesell has had to rely on in his backcourt this season. Morabbi can be relied upon as a scorer if called upon to do so.

He scored a season-high 20 points in the Bulldogs' lone league win over Samford but has been held to a combined 14 points over the last three outings. He ranks second on the team in field goals made (41) and three-point field goals made (14) this season.

Moore and Wright have been solid but inconsistent for the most part this season for the Bulldogs. Wright scored a season-high 26 points in a win over Army, while Moore posted a career-best 30 points in a win over UVA-Wise. Moore is the Bulldogs' best perimeter threat, having knocked down 27 triples this season for the Bulldogs.

Bo Holston (4.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG), Barry Smith (6.3 PPG, 2.6 RPG) and Marshall Harris III (3.2 PPG, 0.9 RPG) are the top performers off the bench for the Bulldogs. Holston and Smith add depth in the frontcourt, while Harris adds depth in the backcourt. 

Final score prediction: Georgia Southern 78, The Citadel 62