Last season when the College of Charleston Cougars faced the Elon University Phoenix in Alumni Gym, it was Feb. 2, 2012. Elon had just come off a heartbreaking loss Jan. 28 to Appalachian State University and needed a lift in the midst of a tight race in the Southern Conference’s North Division.

It was the best game I’ve ever seen in person and we called it the most exciting game of last season. The Cougars and Phoenix battled back-and-forth for 50 minutes with Elon coming out on top 99-98 in double-overtime.

This season the Cougars return two of their best players, two of the best players in the conference, in senior guard Andrew Lawrence and junior forward Trent Wiedeman. They were monsters in the game last year. Lawrence scored a game-high 32 points and played all 50 minutes, while Wiedeman had 17 points and 17 rebounds.

College of Charleston has the best record in the South Division so far with a 4-2 record. The two losses came to major conference opponents St. John’s University Nov. 15 and Auburn University Nov. 16, but wins over ACC opponent Boston College Nov. 18 and then-No. 24 Baylor University Nov. 24 have helped turn the tide around on new head coach Doug Wojcik’s first season.

Wiedeman, however, has missed the last three games and is reported to be out indefinitely with an ankle injury. So Lawrence will have to look to sophomore guard Anthony Stitt and junior forward Anthony Thomas to be big contributors on the scoreboard.

Perhaps the biggest battle Saturday night will be the war on the glass. College of Charleston is third in the conference in rebounding, averaging 37.5 boards per game, while Elon is eighth at 34.0 per game. The Phoenix has struggled with getting enough work done on the glass, winning the boards battle just twice in seven games. Most notable is Wednesday’s first conference game against Georgia Southern University, when the Phoenix was able to control star junior forward Eric Ferguson enough and out-rebound the Eagles 35-29.

What would be brilliant for the Phoenix Saturday night? FIRST, out-rebound the Cougars. Elon junior forwards Lucas Troutman and Ryley Beaumont will be battling with Thomas and sophomore center Adjehi Baru, the second-best rebounder in the conference, in the paint. It may come down to what Elon sophomore forward Ryan Winters can do will be crucial. SECOND, control Lawrence, who was a member of the 2012 Great Britain National Team at the Olympics. He has the ability to create something out of nothing and can shoot like nobody’s guarding him. What he can do with the basketball is uncanny. THIRD, shoot the three well by getting good looks. Elon junior guard Sebastian Koch is second in the conference in three-point percentage (55.2%) and the Phoenix are third in the SoCon overall (37.6%). Fun fact, College of Charleston is first (41.2%).

It will be the first big conference game of the season as both teams lead their respective divisions. Elon could get killed if they don’t rebound and threes don’t fall. But if the Phoenix is strong on the glass and Koch or junior guard Jack Isenbarger get on fire from beyond the arc, it could be another thriller in Alumni.

Projected Starting Lineups

College of Charleston: So. G Anthony Stitt (11.5 ppg. 3.0 apg), Sr. G Andrew Lawrence (14.6 ppg, 4.4 apg), Jr. F Anthony Thomas (9.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg), RS-Jr. F Willis Hall (6.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg), So. F Adjehi Baru (7.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg)

Elon: So. G Austin Hamilton (9.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg), Jr. G Jack Isenbarger (14.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg), Jr. G Sebastian Koch (8.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg), Jr. F Ryley Beaumont (9.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg), Jr. F Lucas Troutman (14.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg)