HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. (Interstat) — Jlynn Counter scored 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead College of Charleston to an 85-74 victory over Northern Kentucky in a nonconference men’s basketball game Sunday at BB&T Arena. The Cougars (7-6) built a 10-point halftime lead and maintained control throughout. Counter added six assists to his double-double. Kael Robinson led the Norse (9-5) with 22 points and nine rebounds. College of Charleston shot 54.7% from the floor and forced 16 turnovers. Northern Kentucky shot just 39.1% overall and 30.3% from 3-point range. The Cougars’ Christian Reeves contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds.

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. (Interstat) — Jlynn Counter scored 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead College of Charleston to an 85-74 victory over Northern Kentucky in a nonconference men’s basketball game Sunday at BB&T Arena. The Cougars used a dominant first half to build a double-digit lead and then withstood a persistent second-half push from the Norse to secure the win. College of Charleston improved to 7-6 overall, while Northern Kentucky fell to 9-5. Counter, a 6-foot-3 guard from Oklahoma City, was the catalyst throughout, adding six assists to his double-double in 32 minutes. His performance anchored a Charleston offense that operated with notable efficiency, scoring 85 points on just 73 possessions for an offensive rating of 116.8. The game’s decisive stretch came early. College of Charleston raced out to a 10-point lead just over three minutes into the contest, capitalizing on Northern Kentucky’s sloppy start. The Norse committed four turnovers in the opening four minutes, leading directly to easy Charleston baskets, including a dunk by 7-foot freshman Chol Machot and a pair of layups from Counter. Northern Kentucky, which entered as a 1.5-point favorite, struggled to find its shooting touch against an active Charleston defense. The Norse shot just 25 of 64 from the field overall and 10 of 33 from 3-point range. Charleston, meanwhile, attacked the rim consistently, making 29 of 53 field goals and earning 29 free throw attempts. Despite trailing 40-30 at halftime, Northern Kentucky refused to fade. The Norse opened the second half with an 8-2 run, fueled by Donovan Oday, who scored six quick points to cut the deficit to four. Oday finished with 20 points and six rebounds for the Norse. Every time Northern Kentucky threatened to close the gap completely, Counter or backcourt mate Connor Hickman had an answer. Hickman scored 16 points, including a critical 3-pointer and a driving layup that pushed the Charleston lead back to nine points midway through the second half after the Norse had drawn within five. Kael Robinson led Northern Kentucky with 22 points and nine rebounds, and Dan Gherezgher added 18 points. But the Norse could never fully recover from their cold start or contain Counter, who scored 15 of his points in the second half. A key sequence with just over five minutes remaining effectively sealed the outcome. With Charleston leading 70-67, Counter drilled a deep 3-pointer as the shot clock expired, then came up with a steal on the ensuing possession. He was fouled and made both free throws, extending the lead to eight points and silencing the crowd of 2,828. Christian Reeves provided a strong interior presence for the Cougars with 11 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. Machot added nine points, five rebounds and a block. The game’s total of 159 points went under the pregame over/under line of 151.5. College of Charleston begins Colonial Athletic Association play next Monday at home against Drexel. Northern Kentucky opens Horizon League action next Monday at Robert Morris.

Preview: College of Charleston at Northern Kentucky HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. (Interstat) — The Northern Kentucky Norse, looking to rebound from a narrow home loss, will host the College of Charleston Cougars in a non-conference men’s basketball matchup on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, at BB&T Arena. Northern Kentucky (9-4) saw a four-game winning streak snapped in a 82-77 defeat to Oakland on Wednesday. The Norse have been strong at home this season, boasting a 6-1 record in Highland Heights. Their offense is powered by guard Kael Robinson, who is averaging 21.3 points over his last three games, including a 26-point performance in a close road loss to Purdue Fort Wayne on Dec. 6. The College of Charleston Cougars (6-6) enter with momentum from back-to-back victories, including an 82-78 win over The Citadel on Wednesday. The Cougars have shown resilience but have struggled on the road, with a 1-3 record in true away games. The game features a compelling backcourt duel. Charleston’s Jlynn Counter is coming off a stellar 22-point, 6-assist effort against The Citadel and has scored 17 or more points in three of his last four contests. His playmaking will be crucial against a Norse defense that allows an average of 74.2 points per game. For Northern Kentucky, Robinson’s scoring burst will be key, but they will also look for contributions from LJ Wells, who dished out 6 assists in the Oakland game, and Tae Dozier, who recorded 5 blocks. This contest serves as a final tune-up before both teams dive into conference play after the holiday. Charleston begins Coastal Athletic Association action on Dec. 29 against Drexel, while Northern Kentucky opens Horizon League play on Dec. 29 at Robert Morris. The Norse hold a distinct advantage in record and home-court performance, but the Cougars’ recent form and backcourt talent pose a significant challenge. Tipoff is scheduled for Sunday afternoon.