Few purchases give you a sense of pride and accomplishment like buying a new home. From white picket fences and lush green grass to cookouts with neighbors and holidays with the family, owning a home is magical. Like most great things, though, enduring the home-buying process takes a lot of work. There are many steps to take and difficult decisions to make along the way. One of the most crucial decisions is what type of home loan and mortgage broker to choose. Whether it's your first time buying a home or you're a seasoned owner with multiple properties, you will need a trusted mortgage broker in Charleston, SC, with your best interests at heart.
If you're like most people, you need a mortgage professional whose top priority is their customers - an expert who can provide accurate advice and guidance so you can make educated decisions. That's where Mija Mortgage comes into the picture.
Whether you want the best interest rates or don't know where to start in the home-buying process, Mija Mortgage can set you up in the right direction. From getting you pre-qualified to buy a home to securing a veteran's loan, Mija Mortgage is the trusted solution you need. As Charleston natives, we're proud to serve the Lowcountry and all of South Carolina with trusted mortgage brokerage services.
Unlike some mortgage companies in Charleston, SC, we bring years of high-level experience and insight to the table. Having worked with hundreds of clients during our time in business, we know you're probably going through a range of emotions right now. Buying a new home can be a scary process, especially for first-time buyers. That's why we make every effort to make ourselves accessible and available for clients. Our primary goal is to help you make the right mortgage for your family and your budget.
We know that many home loan officers have horrible reputations. Some brokers only see their clients as transactions, and a means to make quick money. They come off as impatient and pushy, failing to understand that this is a very big decision for you. At Mija Mortgage, we take the opposite approach. We encourage our clients to take as much time as needed to ask us questions and review mortgage documents. We could say that our mission is to exceed your expectations, but we'd rather just show you. From assistance finding FHA, VA, or other loans to refinancing your current mortgage, Mija is the team you can trust.
Here are just a few reasons why home buyers choose Mija Mortgage:
Most people simply don't have access to the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed to purchase a home with cash. Instead, they take out a mortgage loan to buy a home. Unfortunately, many homebuyers are anxious to get the ball rolling and, due to their excitement, fail to shop around for the best mortgage rates. To some degree, avoiding this step makes sense, as it requires a lot of legwork and research to get the job done. For those not wanting to spend hours researching a reasonable mortgage, there's an alternative to consider - working with a mortgage broker.
To understand the benefits of working with a mortgage broker, you must first understand their role in the home-buying process.
Your mortgage broker is a third party that works to connect you with mortgage lenders. Essentially, a mortgage broker works as an intermediary between a person who wants to buy a home and the entities offering loans to buy a home. The mortgage broker works with both the borrower and lender to get the borrower approved. They also verify and collect paperwork from the borrower that the lender needs to finish a home purchase. Typically, mortgage brokers have relationships with several home loan lenders. Mija Mortgage, for example, has access to 50 different lenders, which gives us a wide range of home loans in Charleston, SC, from which to choose.
In addition to finding a home loan lender, your mortgage broker will help you settle on the best loan options and interest rates for your budget. Ideally, your mortgage broker will take a great deal of stress and legwork off your plate while also potentially saving you money.
If you're ready to buy a home, getting pre-qualified is a great choice that will streamline the entire process. Your mortgage broker makes getting pre-approved easy by obtaining all the documents needed to get you pre-qualified. In taking a look at your application, they will determine if you're ready for the pre-approval process. If your application needs additional items, the mortgage company will help point you in the right direction to ensure your application is as strong as it can be. Your mortgage broker will also walk you through the different types of loans, from Conventional and FHA to VA and USDA.
In order to be pre-approved for a home in South Carolina, you must have the following:
Most people choose to use a mortgage broker because they have access to different lenders and interest rates. But a great mortgage broker brings more to the table than a choice of lenders.
Save You from Unneeded Stress:One of the biggest advantages of hiring a mortgage broker is that they can find and vet loans while managing the mortgage process on your behalf. The best mortgage companies, like Mija Mortgage, hire brokers who are experts at keeping underwriting on track, coordinating with relevant parties, and handling all paperwork involved. At the end of the day, mortgage brokers save you stress and time and often expedite the closing process.
More Access: We touched on this earlier, but it bears repeating: A mortgage broker provides access to a range of loans, rates, and lenders. In fact, many mortgage brokers can get rates lower than what the average person could get from a lender.
Save You Money: There's a chance that your mortgage broker can get your mortgage fees reduced or waived by the lender, which could save you a good deal of money.
Help with Unfavorable Financial Situations: Expert mortgage brokers can often assist in challenging financial situations, like when a buyer has inconsistent income or less-than-perfect credit. Experienced brokers, like those at Mija Mortgage, are often aware of lenders willing to will work with nontraditional borrowers.
Provide Key Insights: Mortgage brokers share important insights, such as your chances for a home loan approval and exactly how much house you can afford. They can also save you from making costly mistakes based on their years of expertise in the mortgage industry.
While settling on the best type of home loan isn't as exciting as searching for the home of your dreams, it's equally important. Yes, your Mija Mortgage loan officer in Charleston, SC, will be happy to help explain the differences between home loans. But understanding the basics ahead of time will save you stress and time in the long run.
Conventional loans can be used to purchase a new home or refinance your current one. Conventional loans include fixed-rate mortgages and adjustable-rate mortgages. Generally, borrowers must put down a 3% down payment for owner-occupants, 10% for a vacation property, and 20% for an investment home. If you are able to pay 20% of the total cost of the home, you can avoid private mortgage insurance, which is otherwise required. Conventional mortgages are often preferred by buyers with good credit or people needing a non-owner-occupied mortgage.
FHA mortgages are issued by the U.S. government and backed by the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). This loan is often preferred by first-time homebuyers because it only requires a 3.5% down payment and offers more flexibility with credit requirements and underwriting standards. FHA loans have several requirements you must meet to qualify. Contact Mija Mortgage today to learn more about FHA loans and whether or not they're best for your financial situation.
Also backed by the government, these loans are insured by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and don't require money down. These loans have lower insurance requirements when compared to FHA loans, offer 100% financing if you qualify, and allow for closing costs to be covered by the seller. In order to qualify for a USDA loan, you must live in a rural area, and your household income must meet certain standards. These loans are often preferred by low-income citizens who live in rural parts of South Carolina.
Also known as VA or Veteran's Affairs loans, these mortgages are reserved for the brave men and women who served in the military. VA loans help provide our military members, veterans, and their families with favorable loan terms and an easy home ownership experience. Often, those who qualify are not required to make a down payment on their home. Additionally, these loans often include less expensive closing costs.
If you are a veteran or the family member of a veteran, contact Mija Mortgage today to speak with our Vetted VA Professional, Debbie Haberny. Debbie helps our military members, veterans, and their family members obtain home loans utilizing veteran benefits and would be happy to help as you search for a home.
Do you have questions about the complexities of mortgages and home loans? As your advocate, Mija Mortgage is here to answer any questions you have about mortgages and the home-buying process. We encourage you to call our office to speak directly with one of our mortgage experts or continue reading below for answers to some frequently asked questions.
Q. I was talking to my spouse about mortgage brokers, and they mentioned the phrase home loan originator. What's the difference between a broker and a loan originator?
A. The mortgage industry is full of confusing jobs and titles, making it easy to confuse roles and responsibilities. Such is the case with mortgage brokers and home loan originators. Though their roles share similarities, a home loan originator in Charleston, SC, works for a bank or credit union, while a mortgage broker works for a brokerage company. Home loan originators and mortgage brokers are both licensed by the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS).
Q. I've heard from everyone that you must have mortgage insurance to buy a home. What is mortgage insurance?
A. Essentially, mortgage insurance helps protect lenders if a borrower forecloses on the home they bought. One advantage of mortgage insurance is that when borrowers pay it, lenders can often grant loans to buyers when they might not have otherwise. Though not always required to buy a home, mortgage insurance is often needed for down payments of less than 20%.
Q. I have just been pre-approved to buy a beautiful home in South Carolina. Is there anything I shouldn't do now that I'm pre-qualified?
A. Mortgage companies like Mija Mortgage, make getting pre-qualified for a home easy. However, as your loan process continues, your lender is required to run a new credit report before closing on a home. For that reason, it's to avoid any activity that might affect your credit score, such as:
Q. My brother-in-law recently refinanced his home in South Carolina. What is refinancing, and should I consider refinancing my home too?
A. Refinancing your home basically means you're swapping your current mortgage for a new one, most often with a lower interest rate. If you would like to reduce the term of your loan, lower your monthly mortgage payments, or consolidate debt, refinancing may be a smart option. Many homeowners also choose to refinance if they want to switch from adjustable-rate mortgages to fixed-rate mortgages or to get cash back for home renovations. To learn whether refinancing is a viable option for your situation, contact Mija Mortgage ASAP, as loan rates change frequently.
Here at Mija Mortgage, we believe that the best communities begin with the dream of home ownership. Our mission is to make those dreams come true, with personalized service, expert guidance, and good old-fashioned hard work. As one of the most trusted mortgage companies in Charleston, SC, we have years of experience working with a diverse range of clients, from first-time buyers and investors to self-employed borrowers and non-native English speakers.
Though every mortgage situation is different, one thing never changes: our commitment to clients. Contact our office today to get started on an exceptional home-buying experience.
A former Hardee’s fast-food restaurant in North Charleston has been demolished to make way for one of three shops planned across South Carolina by a Nebraska-based coffee chain.A Scooter’s Coffee venue with a drive-thru is planned for the site at 5641 N. Rhett Ave., according to a company spokeswoman. It’s tentatively set to open in late summer.The lot next to Food Lion supermarket is owned by an affiliate of Buck Management Corp. of Charlesto...
A former Hardee’s fast-food restaurant in North Charleston has been demolished to make way for one of three shops planned across South Carolina by a Nebraska-based coffee chain.
A Scooter’s Coffee venue with a drive-thru is planned for the site at 5641 N. Rhett Ave., according to a company spokeswoman. It’s tentatively set to open in late summer.
The lot next to Food Lion supermarket is owned by an affiliate of Buck Management Corp. of Charleston, which bought the property in 2020 for $700,000, according to Charleston County land records.
Two other Scooter’s Coffee shops are planned across the Palmetto State at 2027 Wade Hampton Blvd. in Greenville and 81 Tulip Oak Drive near Killian Road in Columbia.
Founded in 1998, Scooter’s had just under 500 locations in 23 states with commitments to open in seven more states as of last August, according to franchising.com.
A new home furnishing and decor store is opening in a newly built structure at an East Cooper shopping center.
North Crate & Co., which offers handmade furniture and other items, will open in a 1,500-square-foot space on March 7 around the corner from Nordstrom Rack in Bowman Place Shopping Center off Bowman Road.
The retailer, which was previously at Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, will be open 10-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday. Josh and Tanya Miller are the owners.
The shop will sit next to The Gallery, a hair salon that plans to relocate from the Shops at Shelmore Village at 720 S. Shelmore Blvd. near I’On in Mount Pleasant, according to real estate agent Josh McConnell, who is handling leasing for the existing 720-square-foot Gallery site.
He leads Isle of Palms-based McConnell Real Estate Partners, which is expanding to serve commercial clients.
Also in the realm of home decor and furnishings, an Atlanta-based retailer is now welcoming customers to its first stand-alone store and first South Carolina location.
Ballard Designs opened Feb. 24 in the 9,077-square-foot space formerly occupied by Pier 1 Imports at 1128 Market Centre Blvd. in Mount Pleasant Towne Centre. It said it features a “uniquely curated” selection of classic and contemporary pieces.
“With its beautiful homes, active lifestyles and gorgeous coastal location, the Charleston area is the ideal choice for our first South Carolina store,” said Dominic Milanese, vice president of retail at Ballard Designs.
The shop carries indoor and outdoor furniture, performance fabrics, rugs and coastal accents.
A shopping center representative called Ballard “the perfect addition” to the mix of retailers in the complex on U.S. Highway 17 near the Isle of Palms connector.
The store will be open daily, with abbreviated hours on Sunday. Founded in 1982, Ballard Designs operates 19 retail stores across 13 states in the U.S.
A downtown Charleston dining spot plans to move its restaurant operations to a new location and transform the existing space into an events venue.
Bistro A Vin will move later this month from 40 Archdale St. to around the corner at 159 Market St., where Cafe Framboise once operated. The restaurant and cocktail bar will be rebranded as Azur and include an expanded menu of French dishes.
The Archdale Street site will become Azur Events, a private event space. It, too, will open in March.
The updated restaurant menu comes from executive chef and co-owner Dominic Chantepie. The venue also will include a curated wine list and house-made desserts.
The cocktail list will be provided by Mathis Chantepie, son of Dominic and Florence Chantepie. Joining the Chantepies as co-owner and general manager is Benjamin Boisson.
A convenience store and gas station is in the works in the Johns Island area.
A 4,725-square-foot store with a canopied fueling station is being proposed on Main Road at McLernon Trace near Marsh View Place Apartments. Gilligan’s Seafood Restaurant is to the south about one block.
The development is referred to as McLernon Trace Fuel Station. Site plans do not indicate the brand of fuel.
The city’s Design Review Board will consider the proposal March 6.
A new fine art gallery is now operating in West Ashley.
Stono Gallery opened March 1 at 3874 Savannah Highway in Red Top Village near Rantowles Creek.
Owner Simon Schatmeyer called his new venture a “bohemian art gallery,” featuring dozens of original abstracts and art deco items.
Schatmeyer sells his own art and exhibits and sells pieces created by other local, national and international artists. The shop also carries hand-painted pottery as well as vintage and new handmade jewelry.
Gallery hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday -Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday. It’s closed on Monday.
The Charleston Friends of the Library’s first book sale of the year is coming up in conjunction with National Reading Month.
The event will take place 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. March 3 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. March 4 at Charleston County Public Library’s newly renovated branch at 6325 Dorchester Road in North Charleston.
A pre-sale for host members is set for 4-7 p.m. March 2.
A North Charleston-based retailer is celebrating three decades of outfitting outdoor enthusiasts.
Half-Moon Outfitters will mark its 30th anniversary with a performance by singer Justin Osborne 4-7 p.m. March 1 at 94 Folly Road in South Windermere Shopping Center in West Ashley.
Participants can enjoy prizes, libations and live music.
Beezer Molten launched Half-Moon Outfitters in 1993. The business has grown to eight locations across South Carolina and Georgia, including three in the Charleston area. Another is on the way to Summerville.
We’re following up on our new and coming soon developments story with a guide to development terminology. Check out these definitions of common terms paired with ongoing projects and examples you might recognize in the Holy City.These are projects that provide more than one purpose in the community, like a building with apartments on top and shops on the bottom. Expect to see combina...
We’re following up on our new and coming soon developments story with a guide to development terminology. Check out these definitions of common terms paired with ongoing projects and examples you might recognize in the Holy City.
These are projects that provide more than one purpose in the community, like a building with apartments on top and shops on the bottom. Expect to see combinations of housing, retail, parking, commercial, and industrial components.
Think: Plans for the Union Pier redevelopment, which include a mixed-use neighborhood with housing, hotel rooms, civic spaces, and public parks. Check out the Master Plan.
This changes an area of land from the city’s designated use. Examples of rezoning requests include developers looking to build a high-rise in a neighborhood with a certain building height restriction, or open a business in an area marked residential.
Think: Zoning changes approved by the City of Charleston Planning Commission for a proposed luxury hotel on Meeting Street where the Days Inn used to be. (The Post and Courier)
PUD stands for Planned Unit Development. Instead of following standard zoning requirements, these housing developments work with the local government to determine guidelines for public and private areas. The PUD acts as a framework for future development.
Think: Union Pier, again. The project’s PUD application is currently under review by the city’s Technical Review Committee and is expected to be reviewed by the Planning Commission and City Council as well.
Opportunity Zones are a community development program in SC with the goal of encouraging long-term private investments in low-income communities.
Example: The Holy City has four designated Opportunity Zones that make up approximately 7% of the city’s total population.
This type of path is separate from vehicular traffic and may be used by pedestrians, bicyclists, skaters, joggers, and other non-motorized users.
Think: A county project is underway on James Island to build a 10-ft-wide multi-use path along Riverland Drive, set to continue through September.
This is a freestanding building that shares no walls with other homes or structures. Single-family is a type of zoning district in the city.
Think: Historic homes in downtown Charleston.
This is a building that contains multiple housing units.
Think: Apartments and residential condominiums.
The principal use is the primary activity or function of a site. A site’s principal use must be aligned with the zoning ordinances of the land it’s on.
Example: Living in a home within a residential zone is an allowable principal use.
An activity or function of a site labeled subordinate or incidental.
Example: The garage or shed on your home property might be labeled an accessory use.
CHARLESTON, S.C. — “Well, look at you in that fancy skirt! Don’t you look sassy,” said the woman at the front desk of the Charleston Place hotel. Frankly, we’d fly two hours from Boston just to be called “sassy” by someone with a Southern accent.How was it that we’d never visited Charleston before? This gorgeous, historic city in South Carolina has cropped up on so many “best” lists, it should have its number retired. We decided to plan a girlfriend getaway to the Holy City &...
CHARLESTON, S.C. — “Well, look at you in that fancy skirt! Don’t you look sassy,” said the woman at the front desk of the Charleston Place hotel. Frankly, we’d fly two hours from Boston just to be called “sassy” by someone with a Southern accent.
How was it that we’d never visited Charleston before? This gorgeous, historic city in South Carolina has cropped up on so many “best” lists, it should have its number retired. We decided to plan a girlfriend getaway to the Holy City — so-called due to its 400 places of worship — to meet up with an old friend, Courtney, and see what we’d been missing. Would this coastal Carolina burg (population around 60,000) live up to the hype?
We’re suckers for beauty, and this place nails it. The oldest city in South Carolina, Charleston has nearly 3,000 historic buildings reflecting eight architectural styles: Colonial, Georgian, Federal, Classic Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Victorian, and Art Deco. Not to mention, it’s a short (just over two hours), nonstop flight from Boston. And the weather is pretty darn fine.
Get The Big To-Do
Your guide to staying entertained, from live shows and outdoor fun to the newest in museums, movies, TV, books, dining, and more.
Enter Email
Since we love to explore on foot, we chose lodgings in the heart of the action, the independently-owned Charleston Place (from $400; www.charlestonplace.com). It sits alongside King Street, a major shopping and dining zone. Good museums are a short stroll away. Oh, and one of Charleston’s must-do restaurants, FIG, is just down the block. Plus, the hotel has a terrific on-site spa — a girlfriend getaway requirement and its own much-lauded eatery, Charleston Grill. (Chef Michelle Weaver, props to you for the best scallops we’ve ever had.)
Everyone you meet is quick to tell you how friendly Charlestonians are, lest you expect a passel of sour-pussed Lindsey Grahams. “Good cheer” seems to be the default setting. But it’s not all sunshine and sweet tea. Local folks — tour guides, museum docents, pedicab drivers — aren’t shy about discussing the horrifying aspects of hometown history.
In Colonial America, Charleston was the fourth largest city, and the richest, its wealth built on the backs of enslaved people who farmed rice, indigo, and Sea Island cotton. “About 40 to 60 percent of enslaved people in the US came through the port of Charleston,” says Tyler Page Wright, tour guide and owner of Walk & Talk Charleston ($30; www.walkandtalkchs.com). Placards marking slave auction sites dot the city. The Charleston Museum (adults, $12; www.charlestonmuseum.org) offers an in-depth look at the lives of enslaved people on Low Country plantations. And everyone is buzzing about the new International African American Museum, slated to open later this year.
Set between the Cooper and Ashley rivers, which meet to form Charleston Harbor, Charleston is a peninsula. Handsome pastel-hued stucco homes with ornate ironwork line downtown streets, comprising a 2-square-mile historic district. A walking tour offers an excellent overview of all this, including famous sites like the Circular Congregational Church. Horse-and-carriage tours are also popular. Wright is a gregarious guide, happy to answer questions like: What is a haint? (Answer: A trapped spirit.) Why does Charleston have so many window boxes? (Answer: It’s a thing here, and residents are super-competitive about it.) And, who are the ladies selling woven sweetgrass baskets? (Answer: Gullah Geechee women, who are descendants of the enslaved Africans who worked on the plantations.) Their beautiful baskets are the ultimate Charleston souvenir.
Besides sweetgrass baskets, what else makes a wonderful souvenir of Charleston? After prowling the shops on King Street, we’d say a goldbug from Croghan’s Jewel Box (www.croghansjewelbox.com), a century-old jeweler known for designing every Charlestonian’s engagement ring. This sparkly shop sells Charleston-themed pieces like cuff bracelets inlaid with the city skyline. But we fell hard for goldbugs, a whimsical take on the cockroach (a.k.a. Palmetto bug), designed by founder William Croghan’s great-granddaughter, Mini Hay, and featured in Vogue magazine. Yep, we’re talking gilded cockroaches.
Want to get a conversation going? Ask a Charlestonian about pluff mud. This squishy marshland material, made of decomposed grasses and sea life, smells foul to visitors, but to locals, it smells like home. We got a good whiff (it smells earthy and slightly rotten-eggy) on a sunset kayak tour of Shem Creek with Coastal Expeditions (from $65; www.coastalexpeditions.com), just over the bridge from Charleston in Mount Pleasant. On this guided sea kayak tour, fine for beginners and families, you paddle alongside tall spartina grass and, yes, pluff mud. We saw great blue herons and egrets along the creek; sometimes paddlers spot manatees. Heading back toward a passage lined with seafood shacks, we encountered a pod of dolphins, who came thisclose to our vessels. “Paddles up!” our guide, Morgan, instructed, so we wouldn’t coldcock the cetaceans. After that, the creamsicle-hued sunset was anticlimactic.
Speaking of creamsicles, we quickly discovered the place to go for that girlfriend getaway staple, a spiked milkshake: Carmella’s Café & Dessert Bar (www.carmellasdessertbar.com) on East Bay Street. And they do mean bar; there’s a full bar at this spot, along with gelato, excellent cookies, Italian pastries, and sandwiches. Carmella’s has indoor seating, and some outdoor bistro tables, but it’s double the pleasure if you munch/sip as you walk along the waterfront. In Charleston, winter temps are typically in the high 50s and lower 60s — that’s shorts-and-T-shirt weather here in Boston.
Charlestonians — and the 6 million tourists who visit each year — are obsessed with food. We were practically delirious to secure a coveted reservation at FIG (Food Is Good; entrees from $39; www.eatatfig.com ), a Charleston mainstay co-owned by James Beard award-winning chef Mike Lata. It’s a splurgy night out but, wow: The ricotta gnocchi ala Bolognese was a triumph of pillowy deliciousness. Chef Lata also operates a seafood restaurant in the city, The Ordinary. But we were eager to try another buzzed-about seafood place, 167 Raw (from $8; www.167raw.com). The owners also operate a place on Nantucket (which may explain the lobster roll on the menu), but we went local, opting for crab dip, a shrimp po’boy, and shrimp tacos. We never got around to ordering shrimp and grits during our trip, the most popular dish among the tourist set.
We never made it to the beach, either. Oops. “Everyone comes for the history and the food, so the beaches are kind of a secret,” says Ike High of Explore Charleston. Located about 25 minutes from the city proper are beaches including Isle of Palms, Kiawah Island, Sullivan Island, Seabrook Beach, and Folly Beach. We’re told they’re wide and firm, with tawny sand, but we’ve never actually seen them. And it wasn’t until we were at the airport that we realized we’d forgotten another major item on our to-do list: the 12-layer Ultimate Coconut Cake at the Peninsula Grill (www.peninsulagrill.com). It is, quite possibly, the best thing to eat in food-crazed Charleston, says everyone.
Guess we’ll be back for some cake — maybe in springtime, when the temps edge up to the 70s or so. We’ll pack swimsuits for the beach — and a fancy skirt or two. We’re aiming for sassy.
Charleston Southern Buccaneers (9-20) vs. UNC Asheville Bulldogs (24-7)The Line: UNC Asheville Bulldogs -8 / Charleston Southern Buccaneers +8; Over/Under: - (Get latest betting odds)The Charleston Southern Buccaneers and the UNC Asheville Bulldogs meet Friday in Big South Tournament college basketball action from Bojangles’ Coliseum. Charleston Southern is coming off a tournament win Wednesday versus High Po...
Charleston Southern Buccaneers (9-20) vs. UNC Asheville Bulldogs (24-7)
The Line: UNC Asheville Bulldogs -8 / Charleston Southern Buccaneers +8; Over/Under: - (Get latest betting odds)
The Charleston Southern Buccaneers and the UNC Asheville Bulldogs meet Friday in Big South Tournament college basketball action from Bojangles’ Coliseum. Charleston Southern is coming off a tournament win Wednesday versus High Point. As for UNC Asheville, they’re sitting at 24-7 overall on the year following a win over Longwood over the weekend. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.
Charleston Southern Buccaneers
The Buccaneers limped to a pretty rough 8-14 record over their first 22 games this year. Charleston Southern finished off the year with a 1-6 run, taking losses to High Point, USC Upstate, Radford, Campbell, Winthrop and UNC Asheville.
In the tournament game versus High Point on Wednesday, the Buccaneers were down 40-30 by halftime. Charleston Southern rallied on a 42-30 second half and won 72-70. Claudell Harris topped the team with 20 points and four rebounds.
UNC Asheville Bulldogs
Over on the UNC Asheville side, they managed an 18-6 run through their first 24 outings. The Bulldogs then took a loss to USC Upstate before beating Winthrop, Presbyterian, Radford, Gardner-Webb, Charleston Southern and Longwood in succession.
Matched up against Longwood on Saturday, UNC Asheville was down 38-33 going into the second half. The Bulldogs came back on a 43-28 run and took the win 76-66. Fletcher Abee put up 20 points and Drew Pember added 19 points in the victory.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll probably stay with UNC Asheville. The Bulldogs are on a six-game win streak right now, and they’ve scored 70 or more points in nine of their last 10 games. UNC Asheville won both meetings between these teams this year. The first was 73-63 on January 18 at CSU Field House, then at Kimmel Arena on February 22 the Bulldogs won 80-62 thanks to a 43-26 second half. The Buccaneers have been a very shaky team lately and I don’t think they’ll be able to keep pace if UNC Asheville gets going.