Charleston Holds Off Campbell 87-83 Behind Counter's 23 Points

Charleston's Jlynn Counter stole the show at TD Arena, scoring 23 points and dishing out 9 assists to propel his team to an 87-83 win over Campbell. The Cougars' high-scoring affair saw both teams combine for 170 points, with Counter's impressive performance proving to be the difference-maker. Charleston's Christian Reeves and Connor Hickman also made significant contributions, scoring 21 and 18 points, respectively.

The game got off to a frenetic pace, with Campbell taking a 35-34 lead into halftime. However, Charleston regrouped and exploded for 53 points in the second half, with Counter and Reeves leading the charge. Despite a valiant effort from Campbell's DJ Smith, who finished with 31 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, the Cougars' balanced attack ultimately proved too much for the visitors.

CHD Scout's pre-game prediction had Charleston winning by 9.4 points, and although the actual margin was narrower, the predicted winner was correct. The close scoreline belies the fact that Charleston was in control for much of the game, with Campbell's late surge making the final score more respectable than the game's overall flow would suggest.

Smith's outstanding performance was a reflection of his skill and determination, but it wasn't enough to overcome the collective might of Charleston's offense. The Cougars' ability to share the ball and find open shooters proved decisive, with Counter's 9 assists a key factor in their success.

This win improves Charleston's record to 12-8, and while it may not have been the most convincing victory, it's a crucial one for their tournament resume. As a Quadrant 4 win, it won't significantly boost their NET ranking, but it does help to pad their overall record. For Campbell, the loss drops them to 9-11, and as a Quadrant 3 game, it's a missed opportunity to pick up a more meaningful win.

The implications of this result are clear: Charleston needs to keep winning to build momentum and strengthen their tournament case. With a current NET ranking of 174, they still have work to do to become a serious contender. However, with performances like Counter's, they have the talent and depth to make a push in the coming weeks. For Campbell, the focus will be on regrouping and finding ways to close out games like this, where they had a chance to pull off a notable upset. As it stands, this loss will do little to enhance their tournament prospects, but they can take heart from Smith's outstanding display and look to build on that in their next outing.