GAME NOTES: Winless in Southern Conference play to this point in the season, the Bulldogs of The Citadel take another shot at that elusive first victory tonight as they challenge the Cougars of the College of Charleston at McAlister Field House. Of the five wins this season for The Citadel, only one has come against a legitimate Division I opponent (Charleston Southern). The most recent victory for the program came back on New Year's Eve in a 71-63 triumph over Cornell College at home. Since then the team has fallen in four straight outings, all versus league foes. On Saturday, it was Georgia Southern that got the best of the Bulldogs in a 73-52 decision in this same building. The loss dropped the squad to 0-6 in conference play. As for the Cougars, they too last played against Georgia Southern on January 10th, a game that ended in a 96-90 overtime setback for Charleston. The loss was the second in three tries for the Cougars who are just 2-5 on the road this season. With respect to the all-time series between these two schools on the hardwood, the Cougars hold a 43-37 advantage entering this meeting.

Five players scored in double figures for the Cougars in their game against Georgia Southern, and still that wasn't enough as the visitors dropped a six- point overtime decision last week. Tony White erupted for a career-high 26 points, but was also guilty of seven of the team's 20 turnovers, while Dustin Scott checked in with 20 points. Andrew Goudelock chipped in 14 points off the bench, while Konimba Diarra and Jermaine Johnson both tallied 12 points before they each fouled out. Of the four players scoring in double figures at the moment for the Cougars, White is at the top of the list with his 14.2 ppg, even though he is shooting just 38.1 percent from the field. Goudelock accounts for 12.7 ppg and Johnson another 12.6 ppg, the latter also clearing close to nine rebounds per game to paces the unit in that department. However, even with Johnson hitting the boards hard for Charleston, the team is still allowing opponents to clear just under 40 rebounds per game.

The Citadel made just 21 field goals in 40 minutes two days ago as it bowed to Georgia Southern at home by 21 points. The Bulldogs managed to get just three points from reserves and made it to the free-throw line a total of three times. Cameron Wells accounted for a team-best 16 points for the squad, while Tyrell McDowell chipped in 12 points. Fellow starters Austin Dahn and Zach Urbanus each tallied six points, but in doing so they shot a combined 5-of-23 from the floor. This team has had four different players lead them in scoring in each of the last four games, with Wells still leading the group with his 13.8 ppg even though he has shot just 39.8 percent from the field and 28.8 percent beyond the arc. Demetrius Nelson had been the second-most productive scorer for the group with his 12.1 ppg, but he is currently on the shelf with a foot injury, which means players like Urbanus (10.5 ppg) and Dahn (10.1 ppg) have to focus even more on scoring in order to try and keep the Bulldogs competitive.

Even though Charleston isn't exactly the cream of the crop in the Southern Conference, the Cougars are still head and shoulders above The Citadel.