The Citadel wasted no time putting Erskine away on Nov. 6, racing out to a fast start and rolling to a 100-57 win in front of 1,241 fans at McAlister Field House.
Tyler Mrus turned in a career night, pouring in 27 points, while senior Keynan Davis added 14 as four Bulldogs finished in double figures. The Citadel (1-1) leaned on Mrus and sophomore Marcos Gonzales early, then kept pouring it on the rest of the way.
That opening burst set the tone. Mrus and Gonzales combined for 11 points during a 12-2 run in the first half, and Gonzales finished the spurt with a driving layup that pushed the Bulldogs ahead 16-4 with 13:45 left before halftime. The Citadel carried a 44-28 lead into the break and never gave Erskine a path back in.
The second half was even more lopsided. The Bulldogs came out of the locker room and made 11 of their first 12 shots, including five straight 3-pointers, as the lead ballooned to 30 early in the half and eventually stretched to as many as 40.
Mrus was sharp all night, going 10 of 16 from the field and 7 of 10 from beyond the arc. Erskine’s offense never found enough answers, though Justen Goudelock did lead the Flying Fleet with 16 points.
The Bulldogs also controlled the boards after being badly outrebounded in their opener against Loyola-Chicago. This time, they owned a 51-21 rebounding edge. The Citadel shot 55.7 percent from the floor, finished with 22 assists and 10 steals, and forced 18 Erskine turnovers while committing 12.
Freshman Aaron Ekwere made the most of his 19 minutes. The 6-6 forward from Tampree, Finland, hit all six of his field goal attempts and finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals before fouling out. All 15 players on The Citadel’s roster saw action.
“Once you see that first shot go in the basket starts to look bigger and bigger. All the credit goes to my teammates who were finding me in good spots for open looks.”
The Bulldogs return to McAlister Field House on Nov. 10 to face Virginia University of Lynchburg, which competes in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Division I.
College of Charleston kept its own hot start rolling later in the night, blasting Newberry 112-66 at TD Arena for its second straight 100-point outing.
Javari Johnson led the Cougars with 20 points, and Eli Ellis added 15 as College of Charleston (2-0) followed up its 111-point opener against Southern Wesleyan with another offensive outburst. Five Cougars reached double figures, with Ben Bradford scoring 14, Martin Kalu 11 and Braden Pierce 10.
The Cougars knocked down 11 3-pointers in the win and will head to Philadelphia to play Temple on Nov. 11 at 6:30 p.m.
In Other News...
Dawn Staleys Clemson Visit Had A Personal Twist Gamecocks Fans Will Notice
Dawn Staley made a quiet but notable appearance at Clemson on Friday night, showing up to support her godson, Madden Collins, as American University took on the Tigers. Staley, who was spotted in an American hoodie, had spent part of the day with her own South Carolina team in practice before heading over to watch Collins, who led the Eagles with 23 points in the loss.
For Clemson fans, the visit added an unexpected layer to an otherwise straightforward nonconference game, with one of the sports biggest names in attendance for a personal reason. Collins gave the Tigers a real test on the floor, and Staleys presence served as a reminder of how tightly connected the basketball world can be, even when the teams and colors dont line up neatly. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Kept Its ACC Hopes Alive Despite One Lingering Problem
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Still, the game also carried the familiar reminder that Clemson has not fully solved everything in the kicking game. Junior Nolan Hauser tied a program record with 27 field goals this season, a mark that speaks to both his volume and the Tigers reliance on him in tight spots as the stretch run continues. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Survived A Brutal Injury Week With Bigger Questions Ahead
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The injury list did not stop there. Quarterback Christopher Vizzina rolled his ankle and was limited in practice, though he remained available for the game, and receivers Gordon Sellars III and Tyler Brown also dealt with practice injuries. For a Clemson team trying to keep its season on track, the bigger concern now is not just surviving one rough week, but how long it can keep absorbing hits before the depth chart starts to show the strain. [Read more 🡒]