12/19/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 19, 2010
Coastal Carolina (9-2) vs. Thomas More (5-2)
Monday | 12.20.10 | 7:00 p.m.
Conway, S.C. | Kimbel Arena (1,039)
MEDIA
Live Stats: www.GoCCUSports.com
Live Radio: Chanticleer Sports Network (Matt Hogue, play-by-play)
CONWAY, S.C. - The Coastal Carolina men's basketball team plays its final game before the Christmas holidays Monday evening at 7 p.m. when the Chanticleers play host to Thomas More from Kimbel Arena.
Coastal Carolina (9-2) will be looking for its eighth consecutive win Monday night after defeating East Carolina 59-58 Saturday afternoon at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.
Kierre Greenwood scored the game-winning basket with just under three seconds to play to lift the Chants to a thrilling win. Desmond Holloway scored a game-high 21 points and registered his fourth game of the season in which he has finished with at least 20 points.
Mike Holmes added 16 points and seven rebounds and hit a career-high eight free throws, which included a pair in the final two minutes that gave the Chants their first lead since the 8:16 mark of the second half. Holmes also pulled down a key offensive rebound and converted it into a basket with less than a minute to play.
Holloway continues to serve as the offensive catalyst for the Chants thus far this season. The Indianapolis, Ind., native is first on the team and second in the Big South with 18.6 points per game, while ranking first on the team and eighth in the league with 6.8 rebounds per game. In addition, Holloway paces the conference with a .838 shooting percentage from the free throw line.
Gray is second on the team and 13th in the league with 12.3 points per game and also pulls down 4.9 rebounds per game. In addition, Gray is second in the Big South with a .514 field goal percentage.
Sophomore guard Kierre Greenwood pours in 9.2 points per game and leads the Chants with 36 assists this season. Greenwood ranks eighth in the Big South in assists with 3.27 helpers per game.
Thomas More enters the week riding a four-game winning streak following its 67-54 win over Capital Thursday evening. The Saints have not lost since falling 97-83 against Salem International. Thomas More has already won a pair of conference games in the Presidents' Athletic Conference and will be looking for its second road win of the season Monday against the Chants. The Saints are coached by Jeff Rogers, who is in his second season at Thomas More. He guided the Saints to a 21-7 record last season and a second place finish in conference play.
Individually, Thomas More is led by the 17.0 points per game of senior guard Aaron Miller. Miller also leads the team with 8.4 rebounds per game and is second on the team with a 34.4 shooting percentage from three-point range. Junior post Colt Stafford is second on the team with 11.0 points per game and 5.1 rebounds per game. Junior guard Daniel Whelan adds 10.5 points per game, while senior guard Brian Muse also scores in double figures with 10.0 points per game.
Coastal Carolina and Thomas More will be meeting on the hardwood for the first time ever when the two teams tipoff Monday evening in Conway. Thomas More will be the fourth and final Division III team the Chants will face this season. Coastal is 3-0 already this season against Division III opponents with wins over Piedmont College, LaGrange College and North Carolina Wesleyan.
