Five Players in Double Figures, Cougars Await the NCAA Selection Show Next Sunday To See Who Meet In March Madness

Jeff Walker, Sports Writer

The CAA Championship game was a hot ticket Tuesday night in DC. Top seeded College of Charleston had to muster every bit of offense and defense they could in the final minutes of play, before emerging victorious, downing a very scrappy Stony Brook team 82-79 in overtime.

All five starters for Charleston finished in double figures with Reyne Smith leading the charge with a team best 23 points, including eight in the extra period The sure shooting junior guard added six from long range.

Ben Burnham went 6 of 12 for 14 points, hauling in a game tying seven rebounds. Ante Brzovic and Frankie Policelli chipped in 12 apiece, with Policelli going 2 of 3 from beyond the arc. Kobe Rodgers who stepped up his game in the tournament went 2 for 2 from downtown to add 10 points to the Cougar total.

CofC head men's basketball coach Pat Kelsey often says pre-season polls or winning the regular season means very little when it comes to the post season. Kelsey reminds his staff, players, fans, and the media that everyone goes to the CAA Tournament with the same 0-0 record.

Coming into the tournament as the top seed, Charleston had a first round bye, meaning all they had to do was win three games to come out as champions. Whereas a seven seed like Stony Brook had to win three games just to make it to the championship match.

Entering the CAA tournament Stony Brook was 17-14, with most forecasting they would be an early out. But sportscasters kept writing a different story everyday since Saturday, as the Seawolves knocked off #10 Northeastern 75-65, taking out #2 Drexel in 91-88 in double OT, before dispatching #3 Hofstra 63-59 on Monday to set up a date with Charleston, a team that bested them 93-87 in there lone matchup on January 6th in Stony Brook.

While Charleston was the odds on favorite heading into the game, Stony Brook didn't read the memo, with the game staying mostly a one and two possession contest throughout. This was a classic matchup pitting wild cats (Cougars) against wild dogs (Seawolves), with each squad clawing for every basket and every rebound.

This was a game that went back in forth in the first 20 minutes of action. Overall the contest was tied four times, and provided 11 lead changes. Stony Brook however did to take a narrow 40-35 advantage into the locker room at the half.

The Cougars fought back after the break. Charleston did manage to take a double digit advantage (66-56) on a 3-pointer by Smith with 8:57 left in regulation. But a 17-7 run by the Seawolves over the next six minutes would tie the game at 73 all with 2:12 remaining. Twice missed opportunities by both teams would send the contest into overtime.

A layup followed by a clutch missile by Smith put CofC up by five at the 2:20 mark. Brzovic and Smith would add three more from the charity stripe before Aaron Clarke nailed a big three for Stony Brook with four seconds showing. Smith would add another from the line, leaving the Seawolves just three seconds to get off a shot after Smith's failed second attempt.

Stony Brook came to DC on a mission. Three of their players finished in double figures with Tyler Stephenson-Moore ending with a game high 26 points going 7 of 12 from beyond the arc. Clarke and Dean Noll would add 11 and 10 points respectively for the Seawolves, who end their season 20-15 overall.

Whatever happens to any of the remaining CAA teams is up in the air. However, Charleston will learn its NCAA Tournament opponent, site and date during the CBS Selection Show on Sunday at 6 p.m. Cougar fans, the post-season continues.