Terriers turn focus towards Charleston Southern

It always happens. The celebration has to fade at some point, and the thrill of knocking off an opponent like N.C. State subsides, only to live on in memory and the stat sheets. For a program, though, it's necessary. Life goes on.

The next adversary on the Terriers' list is Charleston Southern (5-3), a formidable Big South foe which, ironically, had its last contest against the Wolfpack. However, it didn't end so well, as the Buccaneers, with tenth-year head coach Barclay Radebaugh at the helm, were disarmed by the 'Pack early in the first half.

Trailing 46-20 at the half, the Bucs shot a meager 2-for-21 from the three-point line, and only 30 percent overall from the field in a 86-50 loss.

A 66-65 overtime victory over Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss., helped get the season off to a great start for Charleston Southern, a squad who finished last season with a 13-18 (6-10 conf.) mark, and a blowout 92-50 win at home against Division II Erskine, located in Due West, S.C., helped to solidify the feeling.

Wright State came into Charleston less than a week later, though, and took a 86-79 decision, serving the Bucs their first taste of defeat on the year. The homestand concluded with a 80-67 disposal of the Southland Conference's Central Arkansas, a prelude to a game against Florida State in Tallahassee.

Charleston Southern never really left in that contest, but a late rally wasn't enough to pull away from the Seminoles, who won 58-47. The Bucs then notched a triumph over a SoCon opponent, edging past Western Carolina 72-66 on Dec. 1. Another stomping of a lower division opponent, this time Columbia International (S.C.) being the victim, led us to the N.C. State matchup, which leads us here.

Wofford hasn't lost to a Big South opponent since a ten-point setback to High Point, which the Terriers went 1-1 against on the season, was suffered early last season. This season, the Terriers have already met one team from the conference, easily defeating old rival Presbyterian in the first meeting between the programs since 1995.

"Make no mistake about it," said Terrier head coach Mike Young, who had three players--Karl Cochran, Eric Garcia, and Justin Gordon--with five or more rebounds in the winning effort at N.C. State, "we've got a Charleston Southern team coming in on Wednesday, so we'll enjoy this for a little bit."

"But there comes a time when you turn your attention," he continued, "and we've got to play another very good team. But that right there was a hell of a win."