CHARLESTON, SC -
Mike Groselle and Barry Smith scored 19 points apiece to lead five Citadel players in double figures as the Bulldogs routed Florida Christian by a final score of 97-44 at McAlister Field House on Monday evening. Groselle became the first Citadel player, since 1974, to record five consecutive double-doubles, finishing with 19 points and 11 rebounds, as Bulldog Head Coach Chuck Driesell earned his 100th career coaching victory in dramatic fashion.
Groselle and Smith were joined in double figures by the likes of Ashton Moore (11 points) and C.J. Bray (10 points), as 12 different Bulldogs scored at least one point in the contest. The Citadel converted 36-of-65 (55.4%) from the floor, including 9-of-24 (37.5%) from 3-point range, led by Smith who hit 8-of-15 from the floor. Groselle, who posted a game-high 11 rebounds, was joined in the post by Smith and Bray, who accounted for six rebounds each, to give the Cadets a 46-28 edge on the boards. The Bulldogs improved to 2-2 on the season.
The Florida Christian offense was led by Montique Lynch's 15 points, which came on 5-of-13 shooting. Teammates Joseph Wood (11 points) and Juwon Braye (10 points) rounded out double-digit scorers, while Kenny Blanc pulled down 13 rebounds, including four offensively. The Suns (2-6) were successful on only 16-of-55 (29.1%) field goal attempts, knocking down 5-of-14 (35.7%) from 3-point range.
The Citadel improved on a 58-21 lead at the break by putting together a 14-7 run over the first 7:14 of the second half. Highlighted by four points from Groselle and three from Bo Holston, the Cadets stretched their lead to 70-25. The second half offensive spurt, combined with a 27-10 run that closed the final 9:27 of the first half, allowed the Dogs to outscore the Suns 41-18 over a 16:41 stretch of the contest.
Three points from Lynch and Wood helped Florida Christian to a 10 point spurt over a 4:31 stretch to make the score 79-38 with 8:15 left in the half.
The Citadel allowed just five points over the remainder of the contest and in the process scored 18 points of their own. Reserve Nathan Conley accounted for five of the final 18 points, hitting a long distance 3-pointer from the top of the key and followed with a layup on a fast break pass from Will Keistler with under a minute to go for the 97-44 final.
The 44 points mark the fewest points allowed by The Citadel since a 55-43 victory in the opening round of the 2010 Southern Conference Tournament against Samford.
The Citadel established a 58-21 lead at the half behind 21-of-36 (58.3%) shooting from the field. Groselle netted a half-high 13 points, hitting 3-of-5 from the field, while Smith added 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor. The combination of Moore (2-4) and Lawrence Miller (2-3) paced a Dogs unit that hit 6-of-14 from beyond the arc, while Groselle's six rebounds anchored the middle.
After falling in an early 2-0 hole, The Citadel responded with an 18-4 run highlighted by 3-pointers from the tandem of Moore, Harris III and Smith, to assume an 18-6 lead at the 13:20 mark.
The onslaught of Citadel points continued after a jumper by Wood, as the Bulldogs put together a 12-3 run behind four points each from Groselle and Jordan Robertson, stretching the lead to 30-11.
Wood and Juwon Braye knocked down a pair of long range 3-pointers for the Suns, but it was the inside-outside threat of Groselle and Miller that allowed The Citadel lead to reach 52-17 at the 4:08 mark. Groselle scored six points in the paint, while Miller added seven points, keyed by two 3-pointers, to make for the 22-6 run.
The Citadel defense allowed just two points over the remainder of the half, while PJ Horgan, Smith and Wright poured in six points offensively. The 58 first half points marked the most for the Dogs this season, breaking a previous record of 46 that came against VMI.
The Bulldogs will enjoy a four-day break before returning to action on Saturday, Nov. 26 at High Point University. Tip-off between the Bulldogs and Panthers is set for 7 p.m.
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