Charleston defeats The Citadel 82-78
Charleston Rallies from 1-Point Deficit to Top The Citadel 82-78 in Thrilling Home Victory
In a dramatic turn of events, the Charleston Cougars erased a one-point deficit at halftime to outlast visiting rival The Citadel Bulldogs 82-78 on Friday night at TD Arena. The thrilling home victory marked a significant test of wills for both teams as they navigated a non-conference matchup that lived up to its billing.
At intermission, The Citadel held a slim lead of one point, 36-35. However, the Bulldogs' advantage was short-lived, as Charleston stormed back to reclaim the lead and never relinquish it. The Cougars' 22-point halftime surge marked a decisive turning point in the contest, ultimately deciding the outcome.
Jlynn Counter emerged as Charleston's star performer, posting 22 points on 2-of-2 three-point shooting while converting an impressive 85.7% of his field goal attempts. Christian Reeves chipped in with 14 points and 10 rebounds to round out a strong supporting cast for the Cougars.
Meanwhile, Braxton Williams paced The Citadel's offense with 24 points, but the Bulldogs struggled to maintain consistency from beyond the arc, converting just 6-of-12 three-point attempts. Carter Kingsbury provided key playmaking, dishing out six assists and grabbing six rebounds, though his own scoring output was modest.
The Cougars' edge in efficiency was on full display throughout, as they shot an impressive 50.0% from the field, including a clutch 75.0% performance from the free throw line. Charleston's bench proved particularly potent, as the unit contributed 14 points to the overall total.
In contrast, The Citadel's struggles with three-point accuracy ultimately proved decisive. Despite a respectable 42.1% shooting percentage overall, the Bulldogs' inability to find their range outside of the paint limited them to just 38.0% from beyond the arc.
Charleston's victory marked a significant test of endurance for both teams, but it was clear that the Cougars had the depth and resilience to overcome any obstacles. As Charleston celebrated its thrilling home win, The Citadel showed signs of frustration, though their inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities ultimately proved decisive in the end.