3
Nov
2026
Aussies in NCAAM
Charles in charge: Johnston knocks down six threes in first game
Furman Paladins’ Charles Johnston. Photo: Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images.
Charles Johnston hit six threes for 23 and 11 as Furman won, and five Aussie men had double-doubles.
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Furman senior forward Charles Johnston knocked down six of his nine threes for 23 points and 11 rebounds as the Paladins beat Bethune-Cookman 79-70 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Seventy-nine Australian men had a game on opening day, and their teams went a combined 54-25.
All box scores are below in a searchable table.
Games played Monday, November 2 US time, Tuesday, November 3. All times AEDT.
Johnston, from Sydney, also went 3-from-3 at the line and had a block in 35 minutes. The 2.11m former Division II transfer was one of five Australian men to post a double-double on the first full day of the 2026-27 season.
Two of them came in the same game. Bryant graduate student Keegan Harvey, from Newcastle, had 20 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks on 7-from-12 shooting as Bryant beat Siena 80-75 at the Chace Athletic Center in Smithfield, Rhode Island. On the other side, Siena freshman Tim Ibukunoluwa, from Perth, had 20 points, 14 rebounds and two steals in his college debut, going 6-from-8 at the line, though he also had eight turnovers.
Northern Kentucky senior Noah Pagotto, from Port Macquarie, had 19 points and 12 rebounds on 5-from-6 shooting and 9-from-11 at the line, with no turnovers, as the Norse beat UTEP 84-76. It was the same building as Johnston's game, the Sanford Pentagon.
Portland junior James O'Donnell, from Sydney, needed only 17 minutes for 18 points and 10 rebounds, making eight of his nine shots, as the Pilots beat Willamette 133-89. Willamette is not a Division I program.
Arizona State sophomore Joel Foxwell, from Melbourne, played all 40 minutes for 15 points and five assists in a 75-65 win over East Tennessee State. Central Arkansas sophomore Harry Beauchamp, from Victoria, also scored 15, with three threes, as the Bears beat Oral Roberts 85-55.
The next Australian men play on Wednesday, November 4 (AEDT):
- Jacob Furphy: Wagner at Boston College, 11:00am.
- Stephen Olowoniyi: Purdue Fort Wayne at Duquesne, 11:00am.
- Ben Tweedy: Manhattan at Kentucky, 11:00am.
- RJ Greer: Milligan at UNC Greensboro, 11:00am.
- Truman Byrne: Lipscomb at Iowa, 12:00pm.
- Maper Maker: Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Arkansas, 12:00pm.
- Bailey Nunn and Tiernan Stynes: Cal State Fullerton at San Diego State, 2:00pm.
Johnston and Pagotto are back on Thursday, November 5 (AEDT): Furman hosts Bob Jones at 11:30am and Northern Kentucky, with Will Shortt and Ethan Elliott, visits South Dakota at 12:00pm.
Every player is on our tracker of every Australian in NCAA Division I men's basketball.
