CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel men's basketball team opened the 2016-17 season with a dominant 97-62 win over North Greenville on Friday afternoon, draining 14 threes in the victory.
 
Zane Najdawi got the scoring started for the Bulldogs, hitting a jumper less than a minute in and senior Warren Sledge followed with a three-pointer to give The Citadel a 5-3 lead.
 
The game remained close through the first five minutes but back-to-back threes by Matt Frierson gave the Bulldogs a 17-14 lead. They would not give up the lead the rest of the game. The Citadel finished the first half on a five-point run thanks three free throws by Frankie Johnson and a jumper by Quayson Williams, giving them a 42-30 lead heading into halftime.
 
Williams wasted little time for the Bulldogs in the second half, knocking down a three in the corner to extend the 'Dogs lead to 15. The sophomore finished the game with 11 points.
 
Head coach Duggar Baucom and company continued to pour it on and nine minutes into the second half freshman Kaelon Harris threw down a dunk to push The Citadel's lead to 29. The dunk was set up thanks to a steal by Sledge as the Bulldogs finished the game with 39 points off of turnovers.
 
Six Bulldogs finished in double-digits with Johnson leading the way with 16 points while Sledge added 13. The duo combined for six threes in the game. Frierson chipped in 11 for the 'Dogs, going 3-for-6 from behind the arc. Freshmen Preston Parks and Harris combined for 23 points in the game.
 
The Bulldogs tip off the regular season in one week, traveling to crosstown rival College of Charleston on Nov. 11 for a 7 p.m. game.
 
For more information on The Citadel basketball, follow @CitadelHoops or visit CitadelSports.com.