Box Score (PDF)

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel men's basketball team earned a hard-fought 97-83 win over Presbyterian on Monday evening, improving to 3-0 at McAlister Field House.
 
Frankie Johnson got off to a fast start for the Bulldogs, scoring five points in the first four minutes to give The Citadel (4-3) a 13-8 lead. Quayson Williams pushed the Bulldogs lead to 20-11 a few minutes later with his second three-pointer and then hit his third three ball right out of the under-12 media break to push it to a 12-point advantage.
 
The Blue Hose (2-4) continued to fight back despite trailing by as many as 12 in the first half and with 4:18 left took the lead after hitting a three-pointer to cap off a five-point swing.
 
On the next possession, Preston Parks buried a three-pointer with a hand in his face to regain the lead for the 'Dogs. A couple of minutes later, Zane Najdawi got his defender to bite with a pump fake and laid it in for an easy two points. Parks followed with another trey to make it a 10-point Bulldogs' lead with less than two minutes remaining in the first half. A free throw by Kaelon Harris with 28 seconds remaining gave The Citadel a 50-39 lead heading into halftime and marked the eighth time this season head coach Duggar Baucom's squad has scored at least 50 points in a half.
 
Najdawi came out on fire in the second half, scoring the first four points for the 'Dogs including a ferocious dunk to quickly make it a 15-point game. But once again the Blue Hose battled back and with 9:22 remaining, the Bulldogs' lead was trimmed to five.
 
Following the basket by the Blue Hose, Parks hit a big three-pointer at the nine minute mark to push it to an eight-point game. The freshman continued to make clutch shots for the 'Dogs as he hit a jumper with under three minutes in the half to give The Citadel a 12-point lead. With less than one minute remaining Najdawi sealed the victory with a layup and a three-pointer to give the 'Dogs the 97-83 non-conference win.  
 
Najdawi continued his stellar season with his fourth 20-point game and second in as many contests. The sophomore finished with 27 points, nine rebounds and went a perfect 12-for-12 from the charity stripe. Najdawi has missed just six free throws this season. Parks dropped a career-high 20 points, going four-of-eight from behind the arc while Williams chipped in 14 and Johnson scored 10. Williams has hit at least one three-pointer in every game this season.
 
The Bulldogs now turn to the Holy City Hoops Classic this weekend with three games in as many days. The Citadel will tip off the tournament with a 2 p.m. contest against Colgate on Friday. All three games will be broadcast on ESPN3 with live stats available at CitadelSports.com. For tickets, visit CitadelSports.com/tickets.
 

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