SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Citadel basketball team downed Georgia Southern 95-90 to open up play at the Palmetto State Shootout on Wednesday night. The Bulldogs (3-2) hit 18 three-pointers and shot 50.8 percent from the field set up by 26 total assists in the win.
 
Senior Derrick Henry led five players in double digits with 18 points. The senior has scored in double figures in all five games to start the 2015-16 campaign. Warren Sledge added 17 clutch points behind five three-pointers and Quinton Marshall recorded 13 points, nine rebounds and a career-high six assists in a solid all-around performance.
 
Senior point guard P.J. Boutte collected his second career double-double and second of the season with 10 points and 10 assists. His 38 dimes this season is the highest total among all Southern Conference players.  
 
Freshman Matt Frierson also played eight crucial minutes, drilling three treys to help fuel the Bulldogs when they needed to swing the momentum. With The Citadel trailing 17-12 at the 11:52 mark of the first half, Frierson unselfishly threw an extra pass to Henry for a much-needed three-pointer. The play sparked a 19-3 Bulldogs run that surged head coach Duggar Baucom's team ahead 31-20. The Citadel made six three-pointers during the game-altering run, including one from Frierson.
 
Georgia Southern managed to battle back and close the gap to 48-47 at halftime and the final 20 minutes featured a frenetic, seesaw finish. Neither team led by more than six down the stretch as both squads traded tough buckets.
 
Sledge's ability to knock down clutch shots from the beyond the arc proved to be the difference. He hit four second-half treys with The Citadel either trailing or leading by two points or less. His three-pointer with 4:43 remaining gave the Bulldogs an 85-80 advantage.
 
Georgia Southern tied the score at 87-87, but another long ball from Henry gave The Citadel a lead it would never surrender as Baucom's squad sealed the win with free throws in the final minute. The Bulldogs' 18 three-pointers made were tied for the second-most in school history in a single game. The win also marked the third time this season that the team racked up 20 or more assists. Each time has resulted in a victory.
 
The Citadel continues play at the Palmetto State Shootout on Friday against Bob Jones at 7 p.m. and wraps up the invitational vs. host USC-Upstate at 2 p.m. Saturday.

For more information on The Citadel basketball, follow @CitadelHoops or visit CitadelSports.com.