For the last three seasons, Brody Fox has lived at the free throw line.
Fox, a graduate transfer from Division III Wisconsin-Stout, was one of the nation’s leading scorers last year mainly by getting to the free throw line.
Little has changed for the Mahtomedi, Minn. native since coming to The Citadel.
Fox scored 23 points and Sola Adebisi recorded his first double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead The Citadel past North Greenville, 79-54, before a crowd of 1,034 at McAlister Field House on Nov. 14.
After losing to Boston College in the season opener, the Bulldogs have reeled off three consecutive victories to improve to 3-1 on the season.
The Trailblazers fell to 1-2.
Fox averaged about 10 free throw attempts per game at Wisconsin-Stout and has averaged around the same amount at the Division I level with the Bulldogs.
The only issue Thursday night was that Fox, who was a career 70 percent free throw shooter, made just 9 of 18 shots from the line against the Trailblazers. At one point Brody missed seven straight free throws in the second half.
“Free throw shooting can be a little bit contagious,” said Citadel basketball coach Ed Conroy. “Brody got to the free throw line so fast in the second half there was no time for him to take a breath and just relax and knock ‘em down.”
The Bulldogs got off to a sluggish start as the Trailblazers were able to hang around for most of the first half.
“We were a little bit stagnant and were staring things down offensively and forcing some things offensively that we didn’t do the other night against Stetson,” Conroy said.
North Greenville’s Ayden Baker hit two three throws to cut the Bulldogs lead to 17-16 with 7:53 to play in the first half.
It was all Bulldogs after that.
Adebisi connected on a back-to-back threes and Christian Moore added a short jumper as the Bulldogs built a double-digit lead.
“We were struggling offensively, and he gave us a spark with this three-point shooting,” Conroy said. “He stepped up and knocked down those threes. I love the fact that he’s showing that part of his game and being aggressive.
“When he’s knocking down the three it really helps us offensively. We are able to spread the floor and guys like Brody can get downhill.”
John Adams had a jump hook and freshman Eze Wali had a driving layup to give the Bulldogs a 33-18 lead with 2:37 left before halftime.
A Wali layup with a second to play gave the Bulldogs a 37-23 headed into the locker room.
“We got eight straight stops to end the first half, which was huge,” Conroy said. “That group we had in there at the end of the first half gave us a huge lift.”
Threes from Colby McAllister, Paxton Davidson and Adebisi extended the Bulldogs advantage to 49-32 with 15:14 to play.
Then Fox took over the game. The former Division III All-American repeatedly got to the rim and scored or was fouled. Fox was 7 of 11 from the floor, but made just 9 of 18 free throws.
If there was one negative from the game it was the Bulldogs free throw shooting. The Citadel was just 17 of 32 for the game.
The Trailblazers were led by CaDarrius Sowell’s 13 points.
Next game
The Bulldogs will face North Carolina A&T Sunday beginning at 2 p.m. at McAlister Field House.