Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
College of Charleston wins CAA title game, earns NCAA Tournament berth
By ROB ROSE
A special season for the College of Charleston has culminated in a March Madness spot.
Charleston (31-3) won the 2023 CAA Tournament title with a 63-58 victory of the University of North Carolina Wilmington on Tuesday.
Charleston senior guard Ryan Larson more than doubled his season average of 10 points with 23 in the win. Larson hit four 3-pointers and nine shots to lead the Cougars.
Sophomore forward Ante Brzovic added 16 points and eight rebounds for the Cougars. Charleston leading scorer Dalton Bolon didn’t register a point in the game.
UNCW was led by sophomore forwards Amari Kelly and Trazarien White who each scored 16 points for the Seahawks.
The Cougars went on a 12-0 over a 3-minute span in the final six minutes of the game to pull ahead after a big run by the Seahawks.
Charleston spent a month ranked in the AP Top 25 this season, with a peak at No. 18 for two weeks.
Charleston lost only three games this season: its second game vs. then-No. 1 UNC and a pair of conference games against Drexel and Hofstra.
The Cougars reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018. Charleston lost the first round 4-13 game against Auburn, 62-58 during the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
UNCW beat top seed Hofstra in the semifinal to set up a chance to reach the NCAA Tournament.
The Cougars beat UNCW in both meetings this season, including a 32-point win on Feb. 8.
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