WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – William & Mary took over the top spot in the Colonial Athletic Association following a 67-56 win over Charleston in a match-up of league unbeatens on Saturday afternoon. Here are the five storylines and the highlights behind the Tribe (13-5) improving to 5-0 in CAA play for just the third time in program history.
 
The Tribe's game highlights vs. Charleston are available above or by clicking HERE.
 
1) Defensively Limiting Riller
Charleston's high-scoring guard Grant Riller entered Saturday's contest averaging a league-high 26.6 points per game in CAA play and ranked among the nation's top 10 overall at 22.6 points per game. To make matters worse, the preseason CAA Player of the Year has historically haunted the Tribe averaging 26.1 points per game, shooting 62.9% from the floor and 55% from 3-point range, in seven career games against the Green and Gold.
 
As the primary defender, junior Luke Loewe limited Riller to a season-low 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting from the floor. The Tribe frustrated the Cougars' senior guard to the point that he fouled out with less than 30 seconds remaining. Loewe drew a pair of offensive fouls against Riller in helping to limit the two-time All-CAA First Teamer. In three of the Tribe's last four wins as the primary defender, Loewe held three of the CAA's top-four scoring guards – Riller (21.9), Northeastern's Jordan Roland (21.6) and Hofstra's Desure Buie (19.1) – to just 9-of-40 shooting (22.5%).
 
2) Bench
The Tribe bench made a major impact in the win over the Cougars, outscoring their counterparts, 25-19. Sophomore Thornton Scott and freshman Rainers Hermanovskis led the W&M bench with eight points apiece, while sophomore Quinn Blair added six points and six rebounds. Hermanovskis's eight points was a career-high, while Scott led W&M with five assists.
 
The Tribe closed the first half on a 13-2 run and did so with four reserves and senior Nathan Knight on the court. In fact, the bench scored 11 of the 13 points. Scott found Blair for an alley-oop lay-up, before knocking down a 3-pointer of his own. Hermanovskis and classmate Miguel Ayesa connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to end the half and give W&M a 37-27 lead at the break.
 
3) Limited Turnovers
Turnovers have been an issue for the Tribe through the first half of the season, averaging 13.5 per game. On Saturday, the Green and Gold turned it over a season-low seven times, which allowed the CAA's leading offense to maximize its possession. The Tribe leads the conference in offensive efficiency in league games (113.7). W&M had just three turnovers in the second half and zero in the final seven minutes.
 
4) Double-Double Machine
Senior Nathan Knight posted his fourth-straight double-double and his nation-leading 14th overall. He led all scorers with 21 points and 13 rebounds. The 6-10 center did most of his damage at the free-throw line, connecting on 8-of-11 at the charity stripe.
 
Knight scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half and came up big at a crucial time. After Charleston cut the lead to 48-41 and forced a W&M timeout with 10:15 left in the game, the Tribe went the Knight out of the break and he converted a conventional 3-point play. It started a 9-0 Tribe run in which Knight scored seven points and his bucket at the 6:43 mark extended the lead to its largest at 57-41.
 
5) The Tribe Faithful Rocked Kaplan Arena
After only being able to see W&M four times in Kaplan Arena during the nonconference slate, the Tribe faithful showed its support in full force during the CAA home-opening weekend. Saturday's attendance of 4,384 was the third largest in the league this season behind only the UNCW's 5,100 vs. North Carolina and Charleston's 5,005 against Oklahoma State. To give a bit more perspective, the other three CAA games on Saturday drew 5,437.
 
It was the largest non-Gold Rush crowd for W&M in the last five years. Through the first five CAA games, W&M leads the league in attendance with 3,856 per game. The start of CAA play saw the debut of the Precarious Pavilion, which was a rousing hit in its first two games as part of the Kaplan Arena fan experience. The family-friendly Pavilion will be open an hour before tip-off of each of the Tribe's remaining seven home games.
 
Up Next
- The Tribe hits the road next week for games at Delaware (Jan. 16) and Drexel (Jan. 18).
- The game will be broadcast on FloHoops. All Tribe home games and the program's remaining 13 CAA games will be streamed on FloHoops. A FloHoops subscription is $12.50 per month or $95.88 per year ($7.99 per month) and provides access to 130 CAA men's basketball games, as well as special features.
- Tribe fans can catch the men's basketball action over the William & Mary Sports Network with Jay Colley and Charlie Woollum on the call. The Tide 92.3 FM and 107.9 Bach FM are the flagship stations of the William & Mary Sports Network and the audio is also available over the Web via the Tune-In app.
 
Two chances for Tribe fans can get an inside look at William & Mary basketball next week. On Monday night, Tribe Talk Presented by Chesapeake Bank with Dane Fischer is back at Precarious Beer Hall. The 30-minute on-air show begins at 7 p.m. Fans can hear the live broadcast on the William & Mary Sports Network and its flagship station 92.3 FM The Tide. Tribe Talk will also be available online via the Tune-In App.
 
'Dining with Dane' also returns on Tuesday, Jan. 14. The monthly luncheon featuring Tribe head coach Dane Fischer, which begins at noon, is held at Anna's Brick Oven and include a buffet for $13.75. The 'Dining with Dane' series provides fans the opportunity to get Coach Fischer's thoughts on the season and upcoming games.