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CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel men's basketball team opens the 2016-17 season this Friday when they take on College of Charleston at TD Arena.
 
The Bulldogs come into the game following a tune up against North Greenville in their lone exhibition game of the year. Frankie Johnson led The Citadel with 16 points, going 3-for-4 from three-point range and dishing out three assists in the 97-62 win. The freshman was followed by Warren Sledge and Preston Parks who both finished with 13 points.
 
FAST FACTS
• Head coach Duggar Baucom welcomed nine freshmen to the squad over the summer, marking his largest recruiting class as a head coach.
• Coach Baucom needs just two more victories to reach 200 career wins.
• This year marks the 117th season of basketball at The Citadel.
• Dating back to 1901, this will be the earliest The Citadel and College of Charleston have ever faced each other. Friday's game marks just the third time the two schools have squared off in November with the last matchup coming in 1985.
• Warren Sledge, Quayson Williams, Brian White, Zane Najdawi, Matt Frierson, Tom Koopman and Bobby Duncan are all back for their second year under Coach Baucom, combining for 82 starts in their careers.
• This season, the Bulldogs will face six opponents for the first time in program history with four being played in the first six games of the season. The Citadel will welcome Johnson University-Florida and Truett McConnell to McAlister Field House but then face all other first-time opponents on the road including the first game in program history to be played in Arizona at Arizona State.
• The Bulldogs will also host the inaugural Holy City Hoops Classic from Dec. 2-7 that features Colgate, USC Upstate, Campbell and Toccoa Falls.
• Last year was the first time in four seasons The Citadel did not face an ACC opponent but the Bulldogs renew that tradition this season when they travel to Virginia Tech. The former Southern Conference foes have faced each other 19 times before but this will be only the second meeting since 1966.
LAST MEETING
• Last year's meeting between the Bulldogs and Cougars was a back-and-forth affair with The Citadel eventually dropping the 82-74 contest after College of Charleston finished the game on a 14-2 run.
• Warren Sledge finished the game with 11 points in 34 minutes played. Zane Najdawi, Brian White, Quayson Williams and Matt Frierson combined for 20 points in the game.
• The Bulldogs drained nine threes and shot 41% from the floor against the Cougars.
 
Tip for the regular season opener against the Cougars is set for 7 p.m.
 
For more information on The Citadel basketball, follow @CitadelHoops or visit CitadelSports.com.