Published Wednesday, February 03, 2010 9:24 AM
Updated Wednesday, February 03, 2010 9:25 AM
Bucs aiming to get back on track against Asheville
The Charleston Southern basketball team will try to end a three-game skid Thursday night at home against UNC Asheville.
The Buccaneers (10-11, 5-6 Big South) are coming off an ugly 58-51 loss to Presbyterian Saturday. The Blue Hose had just three wins before holding the Buccaneers to 37 percent shooting and their second-lowest scoring title of the season.
“To beat UNC Asheville, our team needs better execution,” Charleston Southern coach Barclay Radebaugh said. “It’s pretty simple, execution, shot selection and creating quality shots through quality screens and quality ball movement. Our guys know what to do. Now they have to go and do it.”
The Buccaneers won the first meeting Jan. 9, 77-74 in overtime in Asheville. Bucs guard Jamarco Warren had a game-high 23 points, forward Kelvin Martin tacked on 21 points and guard Jeremy Sexton made a clutch, go-ahead 3-pointer with 34 seconds left in OT.
“UNC Asheville is a good team that is playing very well lately,” Radebaugh said. “We will need to execution for a full 40 minutes to beat them.”
UNCA has not lost since losing to Charleston Southern, winning seven straight games. The Bulldogs (10-12, 7-4) are coming off a 92-84 win over defending league champion Radford.
Bulldogs sophomore guard Matt Dickey is coming off a 26-point performance and was named the conference’s player of the week. He’s one of five Bulldogs averaging between 10.2 and 12 points per game.
While the Bulldogs are in cruise control, CSU has hit a speed bump this season.
Against Presbyterian, the Buccaneers fell behind by 13 points in the second half but couldn’t get any closer than three points the rest of the way.
Presbyterian hit enough free throws down the stretch to send the Bucs to their third straight loss.
Forward Kenny Mitchell had a team-high 13 points for the Buccaneers and Martin had a double-double with 11 points and 12 boards. Warren added 11 points.