Charleston, S.C. - Junior guard Zach Urbanus set a career-high for most consecutive 20-point contests, scoring 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting, to lead The Citadel to 68-43 victory over Georgia Southern. Teammate Cameron Wells, who faced constant defensive pressure throughout the afternoon, tallied 14 points. Austin Dahn rounded out double-digit scorers with 10 points. The Bulldogs defense forced 20 Eagle turnovers and limited GSU to 13 made field goals. The victory improves their record to 6-4 overall, 1-1 in Southern Conference play.
"I was really happy with the way that our guys responded," said Bulldogs Head Coach Ed Conroy. "I got after them pretty good following the Davidson game and yesterday in practice. Guys like Bryan Streeter, who demonstrated great leadership, along with Zach (Urbanus) and Cameron (Wells) really came and set the tone on the defensive end. We have had moments this year where both offensively and defensively that we really looked good. But I don't know if we have put it together as consistently as we did tonight."
Urbanus, who scored 23 points respectively against Davidson and Central Connecticut State, led all scorers by virtue of hitting 5-for-7 from 3-point range. He was joined by Cosmo Morabbi (2-4), Wells (1-2) and Dahn (2-5) to combine for 10-of-22 shooting (45.5%) from beyond the arc. Bryan Streeter, who was not in the starting lineup, provided a force in the paint with six points and a team-high six rebounds for the Bulldogs. The Citadel converted 22-of-55 attempts (40%) from the field and added 14-of-22 from the free-throw line (63.6%).
As for Georgia Southern, who in the midst of a three-game losing streak to the Bulldogs, they were led by Ben Drayton and Willie Powers with 10 points apiece. Johntavious Rucker added eight point on 4-of-6 shooting, leading the Eagles with highest number of made baskets. Tyler Troupe grabbed nine boards, six on the defensive glass, to lead both squads.
Urbanus sparked the Bulldogs lineup midway through the first half of play when he converted a pass from Wells at the 11:35 mark to close the deficit to 11-9 in favor of GSU. From there the Bulldogs would finish out the half on a 24-9 run behind 12 points from Urbanus. The Citadel held a 33-20 edge at the break.
The second half of action was much of the same as the Bulldogs outscored Georgia Southern 20-5 over a 6:43 span that was capped off by a Morabbi 3-pointer. With 6:21 remaining the contest, and Wells at the line, the junior point guard stretched the advantage to 30, 64-34, marking a game-high.
Urbanus and Wells continue to move further up the rankings for Citadel shooters. Urbanus has now connected on 183 career 3-pointers, leaving him eight shy of Ryan Nesbit in fourth place. As for Wells, his 14 points moves him into 18th place on the all-time scoring list. Wells will look to pass Felipe de las Pozas (1,135 pts.) next on the list.
Up next for the Bulldogs will be ninth ranked Michigan State on Monday, Dec. 7 at McAlister Field House. The nationally televised game, on ESPNU, will begin at 7:05 p.m.
