Washington D.C.: Cougars Advance to CAA Championship
College of Charleston Athletics
The College of Charleston men’s basketball team displayed remarkable resilience as they came back to defeat No. 5 Towson 61-56 in a thrilling fashion, earning a spot in the CAA title game. The stage was set at a fever pitch as the Cougars faced off against the Tigers in a high-stakes matchup that did not disappoint.
Game Highlights
The game kicked off with an electrifying start as Ante Brzovic set the tone for the Cougars with a thunderous slam dunk. Both teams struggled to find their rhythm initially, leading to a four-minute scoring drought. However, a burst of five points from Bryce Butler fueled a 7-0 run, putting the Cougars ahead at 11-5 with 12 minutes remaining in the first half.
Charleston experienced a brief scoring slump, allowing Towson to narrow the gap to just one point at 14-13. It was Reyne Smith who ignited the Cougars with back-to-back three-pointers, swinging the momentum back in their favor. The see-saw battle continued, with Towson eventually taking their first lead of the game at 23-22.
As the first half winded down, both teams traded blows, but a steal and score from Smith at the buzzer propelled Charleston to a slim 31-30 lead heading into halftime. Smith led the charge for the Cougars in the first half with 11 points.
The second half saw Towson strike first, but Charleston responded with a 6-0 run to regain control. The intensity reached a boiling point as the game witnessed a total of 11 lead changes with ten minutes left on the clock. Trailing by as much as seven points, CJ Fulton sparked a late resurgence for the Cougars, cutting Towson’s lead to three at 55-52.
With time winding down, the contest reached a fever pitch as the teams traded baskets relentlessly. Kobe Rodgers stepped up in the clutch, tying the game with two crucial free throws. Brzovic then made a game-changing play, blocking a Towson shot before slamming home a dunk to give the Cougars their first lead in over 14 minutes.
Towson’s offense faltered in the closing moments, going scoreless for nearly four minutes. Charleston capitalized on the opportunity, sealing the dramatic victory with three free throws from Smith to secure a 61-56 win.
Key Players
Smith led the charge for Charleston with a game-high 16 points, supported by Butler with 13 points and Frankie Policelli with ten. Brzovic dominated the boards for the Cougars, pulling down six rebounds. Charleston narrowly edged out Towson in the rebounding battle, securing a 36-33 advantage.
With their 11th consecutive win, the Cougars currently boast the nation’s second longest winning streak, trailing only behind James Madison. Charleston will now set their sights on the CAA title game, aiming to achieve back-to-back championships—a feat that has not been accomplished in the league since UNCW achieved the milestone in 2016 and 2017.
Upcoming Matchup
The No. 1 seeded Charleston team, now boasting a 26-7 record, will face off against the winner of the No. 3 Hofstra and No. 7 Stony Brook matchup in the CAA championship game. The highly anticipated showdown is slated for tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
Charleston fans can catch all the action live and listen to the Voice of the Cougars, Everett German, on the Varsity App. With the championship within reach, the Cougars are determined to leave their mark and etch their names in CAA history.