Box Score
SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - Newcomer PJ Reyes had a statement performance in his first game with the University of Charleston men's basketball team as he led the Golden Eagles to a thrilling 81-78 overtime win against Shippensburg, Saturday evening.
For the day, Reyes accounted for 28 points and seven rebounds on 10-of-16 shooting to lead Charleston in the first game of the Wolf's Bus Lines Classic.
After a much hyped preseason the Golden Eagles got official play under way with an underwhelming first half in the opening game of the 2011-12 season. The Raiders shot 50 percent (15-30) from the floor in the opening stanza, while Charleston could only muster 10-of-28 shooting that included just 21 percent from three-point range. Shippensburg ran out to a 42-27 lead in the first half of the game.
The second half saw UC put together an offensive performance that was a nearly spotless execution of head coach Mark Downey's offense. The Golden Eagles' marksmen came out firing to hit 5-of-11 shots from beyond the arc, while accumulating 52 percent shooting from the floor.
Charleston turned the tides in the second half to come charging back from a deficit that at one point reached 18 points. A pair of free throws from Brandon Ross knotted the game at 58-58 with 5:48 left to play capping a tremendous comeback for UC. Shippensburg had just enough offense left in them to stay in the game late in the second half overcoming the charging Golden Eagles with back-to-back three-pointers in the final two minutes. It took two foul shots from Marcus Knott with 32 seconds remaining to tie the game for the final time. A stiff defensive effort by Charleston sent the game into overtime ending an outstanding second half performance to get back into the contest.
After a physical game both team were in the double-bonus headed into overtime and that would create the difference in the game. The teams traded baskets for the first three minutes of the overtime period before UC created the final distance with 1:36 on the clock.
Reyes slipped thru the Raider defense at the 1:27 mark for a layup that handed the University of Charleston a two point lead at 78-76. After Shippensburg missed a go ahead three-pointer Knott corralled the rebound before being fouled and sent to the line on the opposite side of the gym. Knott managed to drain 1-of-2 free throws with 58 seconds left to play for a three point lead. After SU responded with a bucket of their own Charleston set the final score at 81-78 on two foul shots from Marco Richardson sealing the win.
Reyes paced UC offensively, but was followed by a consistent group of scorers. Richardson, Ross and Evan Faulkner each booked 12 points on the night.
For the game UC shot 46 percent from the floor that included 8-of-25 from three-point range.
Charleston get little reprieve as they make a quick turnaround to face East Stroudsburg at 1:00 pm on Sunday, Nov. 13 in the second game of the Wolf's Bus Lines Classic. East Stroudsburg put together a strong performance on Saturday in a four point loss to No. 6 ranked West Liberty.
