Tavari Johnson anchored a dominant defensive and offensive performance for the Charleston Cougars, scoring 20 points and recording three steals in a 112-66 rout of Newberry on Friday. The Cougars (2-0) established control early, taking the lead with 19:33 remaining in the first half and never trailing again. Johnson’s first-half surge, which included 17 points, helped Charleston build a commanding 52-27 lead at the break, setting the stage for a comprehensive win.
Key Match Highlights & Tactical Analysis
The Cougars’ offensive efficiency was evident throughout the contest, with Eli Ellis contributing 15 points and seven rebounds while Ben Bradford added 14 points on 4-for-7 shooting. In the second half, Charleston pulled away with a 7-0 run that extended their lead from 29 points to 36, outscoring Newberry by 21 points in the final period. Martin Kalu led the second-half scoring with 11 points, capping a balanced team effort that overwhelmed the visitors.
For Newberry, Stanislaw Romer led the team with 12 points, but the effort was not enough to keep pace with Charleston’s momentum. Matthew Foor and Landon Harrison each added seven points, but the gap proved too large to overcome. Charleston will look to maintain this winning streak when they travel to face Temple on Wednesday, aiming to continue their strong start to the season.
Source: Yahoo Sports
