Men's Basketball 8/15/2002 11:24:00 AM Southern Conference College of Charleston Announces Basketball Schedule Charleston, S.C. -- In what has been described as arguably thetoughest schedule in school history, new Cougar coach Tom Herrion beginshis reign with 14 home games and a trip to the Carrs/Safeway Great AlaskaShootout in Anchorage. The Cougars will play at least two games at the North CharlestonColiseum including the traditional season opener with rival CharlestonSouthern on November 22nd at 7:30 pm. The Mountain Dew/Southern ConferenceChampionships will be held at the Coliseum, March 5-8. Charleston, which posted a 21-9 record last season marking itsninth straight campaign with at least 21 victories, plays its home openeron Sunday, November 24 against Webber at 3:00 pm. The Cougars again playhost to the State Farm Good Neighbor Classic, December 29-30 at John KresseArena. Charleston will take on Maryland-Baltimore County in opening roundaction. The Cougars' remaining games at Kresse Arena are against USC Aiken,American, UNC Wilmington, and league members Chattanooga, Wofford, Furman,VMI, UNC Greensboro, The Citadel, Western Carolina and Georgia Southern. The Cougars will be making their second appearance in theCarrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout. Charleston takes on Wyoming in theopening round at 1:45 am EST on November 28th. In 1996, the Cougarsdefeated Arizona State and 21st-ranked Stanford before falling to8th-ranked Kentucky in the tournament's championship game. Charleston's remaining 11 away games include non-conferencecontests at Central Florida, Stetson and SEC member Vanderbilt. "Generally I'm pleased with the makeup of our schedule," saidHerrion, who was named the school's 20th head coach on April 8. "I thinkwe've got a good balance in terms of quality teams both home and away, andenough home games for our players and fans. It's going to be verychallenging."