CHARLESTON, S.C. – Senior Nathan Knight turned in another strong performance on Thursday night at Charleston with a 28-point, 18-rebound double-double. The Cougars, though, used a strong finish over the final nine minutes to win the first-place showdown, 68-50.
 
Charleston (15-9, 9-3 CAA) led by seven at the half, 35-28, after shooting 53.6% from the floor. The Tribe turned it on to start the second half with success on both ends of the court.
 
W&M (16-9, 8-4 CAA) held the Cougars scoreless for the opening five minutes of the final frame while scoring the first 10 points of the frame. Andy Van Vliet's lay-up at the 16:11 mark gave the Tribe its first lead, 36-35, to since 2-0.
 
The Tribe led 43-32 with 13:03 remaining following a Luke Loewe 3-pointer, but Charleston answered with a decisive 15-4 run. Brevin Galloway, who scored a career-high 23 points, sparked the run and gave the home team the lead for good with an old-fashion 3-point play.
 
After a Knight lay-up closed the gap to 51-47 with 8:59 remaining, Galloway and Brenden Tucker hit back-to-back 3-pointers to push the lead to double-digits, 57-47, with 7:11 left. Knight's bucket would be the Tribe's final of the game as the Cougars held W&M to 0-of-10 from the floor with five turnovers over the final 8:58.
 
How It Happened
- After Nathan Knight scored on the Tribe's opening possession, Charleston scored eight in a row to take the early lead. Brevin Galloway scored the first five before a Grant Riller 3-pointer pushed the lead to 8-2 just over three minutes into the game.
- The Cougars used a 7-1 run to extend its lead to the largest of the opening 20 minutes at 10. Galloway, who scored 10 of the Cougars first 16 points, and Brenden Tucker added back-to-back fast-break buckets to push Charleston's lead to 18-8 at the 11:31 mark.
- A Knight old-fashion 3-point play and a Thornton Scott right-wing 3-pointer closed the gap to 18-14 just a minute later.  
- Another Knight 3-point play in the final minute cut the gap to 32-28 but the Cougars took a 35-28 lead in the locker room thanks to a Sam Miller triple with 18 seconds remaining.
- W&M scored the first 10 points of the second half to take the lead. Defensively, the Green and Gold held CofC to 0-of-8 from the floor. Senior Andy Van Vliet's lay-up gave W&M its first lead, 36-35, since 2-0. Knight scored four during the run, including the final bucket with 15:27 left to give W&M a 38-35 lead.
- Charleston scored seven in a row to move back in front. Sam Miller scored five during the run, including a 3-pointer at the 14:08 mark to give Charleston a 42-38 lead.
- W&M scored five in a row to retake the lead. Luke Loewe hit a right-wing 3-pointer to put the Tribe on top 43-42 with 13:03 left.
- The Cougars used a 15-4 run to take the lead for good. Galloway and Tucker hit back-to-back 3-pointers to extend the lead to 57-47 with 7:11 left.
- Over the final 8:58, Charleston held W&M without a field goal (0-of-10) and forced the Tribe into five turnovers.
- The Cougars scored 11 of the game's final 12 points for the final margin.
 
Inside the Numbers
- Charleston shot 47.4% (27-of-57) from field, including 9-of-22 (40.9%) from 3-point range.
- The Tribe finished the game at 33.3% (20-of-60) shooting.
- W&M held a 44-29 advantage on the glass, including an 18-5 cushion on the offensive side. The Tribe outscored CofC, 14-3, in second-chance points.
- The Tribe turned the ball over 14 times, and Charleston outscored W&M, 13-0, in points off turnovers.
 
Notes
Senior Nathan Knight moved past Ben Pomeroy '67 for third on the Tribe's career rebounding list (900) … Knight's 18 rebounds rank at the 13th-best total at W&M since 1973 … With his 28 points, Knight is now just six points away from 2,000 for his career … Knight recorded his NCAA-leading 19th double-doubles and his ninth in the last 11 games … Junior Luke Loewe and the Tribe defensively limited the CAA's leading scorer Grant Riller to a season-low tying 10 points, which he also had on Jan. 11 vs. W&M … Riller was just 3-of-9 shooting on Thursday night.
 
Up Next
- W&M closes out the CAA's Southern road swing at UNCW on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m.
- The games will be broadcast on FloHoops. All Tribe's remaining six 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 on the call. The Tide 92.3 FM is the flagship stations of the William & Mary Sports Network and the audio is also available over the Web via the Tune-In app.