Bucknell University
3-7
College of Charleston
9-1
College of Charleston Comes Back to Defeat Bison Men, 76-63
12/30/2003 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 30, 2003
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Thomas Mobley scored 23 points and College of Charleston shot 71.4 percent from the field in the second half to come from behind to defeat Bucknell 76-63 Tuesday in the championship game of the Saturn of North Charleston Shootout.
Davorin Skornik scored a career-high 13 points and Kevin Bettencourt also scored 13 for Bucknell (3-7), which had its two-game winning streak snapped. The Cougars (9-1) won their ninth straight game after an opening-night loss to Auburn.
The Bison got off to a terrific start, canning their first five field goals while sprinting to a 10-3 lead. Skornik's layup gave them their largest lead of eight points at 30-22 with 3:48 left in the first half.
But the Cougars closed the half on an 11-2 run, with back-to-back 3-pointers by Stanley Jackson giving them a 33-32 halftime edge. Charleston continued its run into the second half, outscoring the Bison 19-1 over a six-minute span to take a 55-38 lead with 12:08 to play.
Bucknell answered with a 16-5 run, highlighted by five points from freshman guard Abe Badmus. Bettencourt's pull-up jumper drew Bucknell within 60-54 with 6:53 remaining.
Jackson quelled the rally with a long 3-pointer, his fifth in five attempts on the night, and a follow-up dunk off a missed free throw by Mike Benton restored the Cougars' double-digit lead to 69-56 at the five-minute mark.
Jackson finished with 21 points and Benton had 16 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks. Charleston made 15 of 21 shots in the second half, including all four from 3-point range, and shot 56.8 percent for the game.
Bucknell shot 46.8 percent and played Charleston even (28-28) on the glass. Chris McNaughton also reached double figures with 11 points and Donald Brown had eight for the Bison.
Bettencourt was named to the all-tournament team, joining Mobley (MVP), Benton and Jackson from Charleston, Chakowby Hicks from Norfolk State and Raymond Edwards of Long Island.
Bucknell returns to action on Saturday at Penn State at 3 p.m.
