GAME NOTES: Seeking to end a three-game losing streak, the College of Charleston Cougars will travel to face the Miami-Florida Hurricanes in a non- conference battle at BankUnited Center on Tuesday.

Charleston comes into the game with a bit of a heavy heart, as former Cougars walk-on Chad Cooke died suddenly while playing a pickup basketball game on Christmas Eve. This season, Charleston is 5-7 with a 1-3 mark away from home.

Miami had a two-game win streak going until the Hurricanes met up with Providence last Monday before Christmas. The Friars took down the 'Canes, 76-62, which dropped Miami's overall record to 9-3 on the season.

The two sides have met just twice on the basketball court in their series history. Miami owns the 2-0 all-time lead over the Cougars, which includes a 70-54 victory over the Cougars in Charleston last season.

It was a dismal offensive performance for the College of Charleston in the team's one-sided 71-47 loss to LSU the last time out. The Cougars hit on just 28.1 percent of their shots from the floor, including 3-of-11 from 3-point range. Anthony Stitt netted 13 points to pace the Cougars in the loss, while Canyon Barry added 11 points and Donovan Gilmore chipped in with 10 points. Berry added six rebounds and four assists in the losing effort.

Offense has been a tough thing to come by for the Cougars, who enter the clash with a strong Miami team netting just 61.2 ppg on 41.8 percent shooting from the field. Meanwhile, Charleston is allowing opponents to score 65.0 ppg in the same frame. Barry leads the team in scoring entering this contest, netting 12.0 ppg on 38.8 percent shooting from the floor. Joe Chealey adds in 11.7 ppg, and Stitt contributes 10.0 ppg this season to round out a trio of double- digit scorers. Adjehi Baru tops the Cougars in rebounding, bringing down 6.6 boards per outing.

For Miami against Providence, a .373 shooting percentage from the floor simply didn't get the job done. The Friars came out in the contest and connected on 54.7 percent of their tries, which helped the team earn the 14-point victory. Angel Rodriguez scored 19 points to pace the 'Canes in the loss, while Sheldon McClellan chipped in 17 points. Tonye Jekiri tallied a double-double for Miami in the game, netting 12 points with 10 rebounds in 35 minutes of action.

It was a rough game for the Hurricanes, who are typically a strong team on the offensive end of the floor. Miami comes into the clash with Charleston averaging 70.0 ppg on 45.2 percent shooting, which includes a 38 percent mark from 3-point range. McClellan leads the 'Canes in scoring this season with 16.1 ppg, followed by Rodriguez's 13.5 ppg mark and Manu Lecomte's 10.7 ppg. Jekiri tops the squad in rebounding with 9.4 rpg, adding in 22 blocked shots.

The Hurricanes get the homecourt advantage in this one, and should easily be able to offensively overpower the Cougars, who have only scored 70 or more points in two contests all season long.