CONWAY, S.C. – The Coastal Carolina University men's basketball program will take to the road for its second Sun Belt Conference road trip when they play at Georgia Southern, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m. ET, and at Appalachian State, Jan. 20, at 4:30 p.m. ET.
LAST TIME OUT
The Chanticleers defeated Old Dominion 79-75 in the HTC Center.
Kylan Blackmon and
Jacob Meyer led the way with 15 points each.
John Ojiako picked up his ninth double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while
Braeden MacVicar, in only his second collegiate start, chipped in with a career-high 13 points.
CCU trailed 35-45 at halftime, but used a strong 61.5 percent shooting performance in the second half to pick up its second Sun Belt Conference win of the season.
THE SERIES
vs. Georgia Southern
This series started back in 1995 and has been a series of runs over the 18 times they have met on the hardcourt.
Both teams have managed nine wins in the series with the Chants winning the first four games. Once CCU joined the Sun Belt Conference in time for the 2016-17 season the teams have met each other twice a season.
The Eagles won five of the first six Sun Belt Conference outings, while between CCU turned that around during the 2020-21 season and won four of the next five. But since that run the Eagles have won the last three meetings.
CCU has won four times in Statesboro, Ga., with the series even at four on the Eagles' home court.
vs. Appalachian State
The Mountaineers hold a 11-4 lead in the series and have won six of the last seven match ups, including a 70-45 win in Conway on Jan. 11.
CCU will be looking for its second win at Appalachian State, where the only win for the Chants came back in 2020, an 84-77 victory.
ABOUT THE CHANTS
CCU enters the game with a 5-11 record overall and 2-3 in Sun Belt Conference action and are looking for its second road victory of the season.
Blackmon and Meyer have been taking turns leading the team in scoring and this week Blackmon's 12.9 points per game average is just in front of Meyer's 12.8.
Ojiako averages 12.3 points per game and leads the Sun Belt Conference in double-doubles (9), rebounds per game (10.1) and in field goal percentage (66.7).
ABOUT GEORGIA SOUTHERN
The Eagles enter Thursday's contest tied for eighth with the Chants, Louisiana, and South Alabama in the Sun Belt Conference. After starting the season with 12 consecutive losses, Georgia Southern has picked up two wins once they started conference action, and 88-67 home win over Southern Miss and a 76-68 road win at ULM.
Georgia Southern is averaging 68.6 points per game, but are averaging 9.6 three-point field goals per game and while their scoring offense is 13th in the conference, their 164 made three's and 9.6 three' per game are both second in the Sun Belt trailing only Arkansas State.
Tyren Moore is the lone Eagle to average double figures at 14.6 points per game and is shooting 47.5 percent from the field, 41.1 percent on his three-point attempts, and 80.0 percent at the free throw line. He also leads the team in assists with 43 and is tied for the team-lead in steals with 16.
ABOUT APPALACHIAN STATE
The Mountaineers enter the week 13-4 overall and in second place in the Sun Belt Conference at 4-1. App is coming off a solid performance in its 59-55 road win at James Madison, their fourth consecutive conference road game.
App defeated CCU 70-45 back on Jan. 11 in Conway and will be playing its first home conference game of the season when it hosts Georgia State on Jan. 17 followed by CCU on Jan. 20.
The talented Mountaineers are led in scoring by Tre'Von Spillers (12.9 ppg) and Donovan Gregory (12.8 ppg).
While the Mountaineers are averaging 76.7 points per game, it is the defense that has been App's defining part of its game. The 63.1 points allowed per game leads the conference by over six points per game. That defense is also only allowing its opponents a 36.8 field goal percentage, also a conference-best.
CCU games at Georgia Southern and Appalachian State can be heard on WRNN Hot Talk 99.5 FM and can be watched live on ESPN+. Links for both along with live stats can be found at www.GoCCUSports.com.
For complete coverage of CCU men's basketball, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalMBB (Twitter), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com.
