WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Charleston men's basketball opened their 2015-16 campaign with a 54-49 win over Livingstone College Friday evening in the MEC-CIAA Tip Off.
 
The Golden Eagles were led by senior Tino diTrapano with 16 points, connecting on four of his seven three-point tries while fellow senior Aleksander Kesic chipped in 12 points from his forward position.  Livingstone's Cordero Holt led all scorers with 19 points.
 
UC held a 10-point lead midway through the first half only to see Livingstone erase the lead and go into the break tied at 25-25.  Charleston's defense was stifling, holding the Blue Bears to just 31% shooting from the field and only connected on two of 20 from behind the arc.
 
With the game tied 43-43 with just under seven minutes remaining, Charleston's diTrapano sparked a 5-0 run with one of his four triples on the night.  UC built its lead out to seven at the 1:16 mark of the second half, before holding on to the five-point win.
 
Charleston gets back in action Saturday evening at 7 p.m. to face the host, Winston-Salem State University to close out the MEC-CIAA Tip Off.