The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSET

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

NAMED a starter headed into his senior season, Bahamian forward Tristian Curtis has improved in his new role and has put up some of the best numbers of his career for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.

Playing just over 24 minutes per game, Curtis is averaging 7.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, all career highs.

The 6’7” 220-pound forward turned in his best game of the season with 10 points on a perfect 5-5 shooting from the field along with eight rebounds in a 71-63 win over division rival Wofford on Monday night.

It was the third double digit scoring game of the season as the Chanticleers have a 6-4 record in the Big South Conference.

Curtis missed the season and played just 15 minutes in his season debut before his breakout game with 14 points against Grace Bible College. He also scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds in a close three- point loss to Auburn.

Curtis finished last season averaging 4.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game and shot 54 per cent from the field in just over 21 minutes. As a sophomore he played just under 10 minutes per game and averaged two points and three rebounds. His freshman season he scored 2.9 points and grabbed three rebounds in 13.7 minutes per game.

The 6’7” forward is one of four returning starters from last year’s team.

In an interview with the Sun News, Curtis said he looked to take advantage of this opportunity after his first few seasons where he played sparingly.

“It’s just a blessing from God, that’s what I believe,” Curtis said. “It was a lot of hard work, a lot of patience over my last two years, and finally my hard work comes to fruition so I’m just real thankful to God and thankful to the coaches for believing in me.”

In the offseason, Curtis and the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers travelled to Havana, Cuba, to face off against the Cuban national team in a three-game series.

An improved relationship in foreign policy between the United States and Cuba was played out on the basketball court, in the first time an NCAA Division I basketball team has ever played in Cuba.

The two-time defending Big South champion Chanticleers made the trip to Cuba in August.

In addition to competing against the Cubans, coastal student-athletes and coaches conducted clinics for players and coaches in Havana and Matanzas and participated in various community service programmes as they toured the nation.