COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Citadel men's basketball team delivered a competitive effort on Saturday night but ultimately fell to South Carolina inside Colonial Life Arena. The Bulldogs stayed within striking distance throughout the contest and continued to battle on both ends against the SEC opponent.
The Bulldogs opened the game with strong energy and physical play, trading baskets early and keeping the contest tight through the opening stretch. The Citadel generated offense inside, scoring consistently in the paint while defending with effort to limit extended runs by the Gamecocks.
Keynan Davis added a spark off the bench, knocking down a three and finishing in transition to provide key minutes for the Bulldogs.
South Carolina carried a narrow lead into halftime, but the Bulldogs responded early in the second half, continuing to compete possession by possession. The Citadel remained engaged throughout the final 20 minutes, showing resilience and composure against a physical South Carolina lineup.
Carter Kingsbury led the Bulldogs offensively, posting a career-high 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Kingsbury also connected on a key shot-clock-beating three during a competitive stretch of the game.
Braxton Williams brought energy around the rim with aggressive finishes, later punctuating the night with a powerful dunk, while
Sola Adebisi battled inside against South Carolina's size and posted nine points, five rebounds, and three blocks. The Bulldogs scored 32 points in the paint and received balanced contributions throughout the rotation, with
Christian Moore facilitating the offense through timely ball movement, including a setup to
Gabe Hernandez for a smooth finish. Defensively, The Citadel applied steady pressure, forcing South Carolina to earn its possessions all night.
Conroy's Comments
Following the game, head coach
Ed Conroy credited his team's effort and competitiveness:
"I was really proud of how hard our guys competed," Conroy said. "We knew this would be a physical game, and both teams played strong defense. We held them to 3-of-23 from three and took care of the ball, but in the end, the difference came down to free throws and a few key rebounds. Our guys stayed connected, communicated well, and fought hard the entire night."
Dogs of the Day
Carter Kingsbury – 18 points
Sola Adebisi – 9 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks
Up Next
The Citadel returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 17, traveling to Charleston for a matchup at College of Charleston. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. inside TD Arena, with the game airing on ESPN+. For complete coverage of Bulldog basketball, visit CitadelSports.com and follow @CitadelHoops on X and Instagram.
