CHARLESTON, S.C. (Interstat) — The College of Charleston men’s basketball team held off a second-half surge from William & Mary for an 88-79 victory on Monday night at TD Arena. The Cougars led 46-32 at halftime, but the Tribe cut the deficit behind a game-high 20 points from Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi. Charleston’s balance prevailed as Colby Duggan and Martin Kalu each scored 17 points, while Jlynn Counter added 16 points and six assists. Chase Lowe led William & Mary with 14 points. A crowd of 4,862 watched the Colonial Athletic Association contest. Charleston improved to 10-6. William & Mary fell to 11-4.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Interstat) — In a Colonial Athletic Association clash defined by contrasting styles, the College of Charleston used superior efficiency and a strong first-half performance to hold off a persistent William & Mary team 88-79 on Monday night at TD Arena. A crowd of 4,862 saw the Cougars (10-6, 2-0 CAA) build a 14-point halftime lead behind sharp shooting and then withstand a furious second-half rally from the Tribe (11-4, 1-1), who leveraged a disruptive defense to claw back into the game but could never overcome their own frigid shooting night. The most critical phase of the game was William & Mary’s second-half surge, which turned a potential blowout into a tense finish. Trailing 46-32 at the break, the Tribe opened the second half on a stunning 16-2 run, erasing the deficit in just over three minutes. The burst was fueled by defensive intensity, as William & Mary forced four quick Cougar turnovers. Chase Lowe and Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi combined for 11 points during the run, which was capped by a Vahlberg Fasasi 3-pointer that tied the game at 48 with 17:58 remaining. College of Charleston, however, responded with the poise of a veteran team. After a timeout, the Cougars immediately stemmed the tide. They answered with a 10-2 spurt of their own, keyed by Martin Kalu and Jlynn Counter, to re-establish an eight-point cushion. This pattern repeated throughout the half: William & Mary would draw close, only for Charleston to deliver a critical basket or string of free throws to maintain separation. The statistical sheet told the story of the game’s dichotomy. Charleston won with efficiency, shooting 46.6% from the field (27 of 58) and 37.9% from 3-point range (11 of 29). William & Mary’s defense was opportunistic, forcing 19 turnovers and converting them into 25 points, while also recording 14 steals. Yet the Tribe’s offense never found its rhythm, shooting just 32.5% from the floor (25 of 77) and 25% from beyond the arc (9 of 36). Despite attempting 19 more field goals than the Cougars, William & Mary could not make up the difference. Jlynn Counter led Charleston with a steady all-around performance, scoring 16 points and dishing out six assists. Colby Duggan and Martin Kalu each added 17 points, with Duggan contributing four assists. Chris Davis provided a vital spark off the bench with 11 points in just 11 minutes. For William & Mary, Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi of Stockholm, Sweden, was a bright spot, scoring a game-high 20 points to go with two blocks. Kilian Brockhoff, from Cuxhaven, Germany, added 16 points, and Chase Lowe of Weddington, North Carolina, finished with 14 points and five assists. The Cougars’ ability to get to the foul line and convert proved decisive. Charleston made 23 of 29 free throws, while William & Mary hit 20 of 25. In a game where possessions were equal at 85 apiece, Charleston’s offensive rating of 103.8 easily bested William & Mary’s 93.1, underscoring the gap in scoring efficiency. William & Mary’s record fell to 11-4 overall and 1-1 in conference play, while College of Charleston improved to 10-6 and 2-0 in the CAA. The game’s total score of 167 points went under the pregame over/under line of 160.5. Up next, William & Mary travels to face Monmouth on Thursday. College of Charleston will host Hampton on Saturday.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Interstat) — A surging William & Mary team looks to extend its winning streak against a hot College of Charleston squad in a key Colonial Athletic Association men’s basketball matchup Monday at TD Arena. The Tribe (11-3) have won three straight and seven of their last eight, most recently defeating Stony Brook 76-57 on Wednesday. William & Mary’s efficient offense, averaging 84.2 points per game during its streak, will be tested by the Cougars’ home defense. Charleston (9-6) has found its rhythm, winning five consecutive games after a 4-6 start. The Cougars are coming off an 85-81 road victory at Elon on Wednesday. A marquee individual battle will feature William & Mary’s Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi against Charleston’s dynamic guard Jlynn Counter. Vahlberg Fasasi is averaging 11.7 points and 4.7 rebounds, coming off a 22-point, 7-rebound performance against Stony Brook. Counter has been exceptional during the Cougars’ streak, nearly posting a triple-double against Elon with 16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. Over the last five games, he is averaging 22.0 points, 7.2 assists and 6.2 rebounds. William & Mary’s balanced attack also features Kyle Pulliam (17 points vs. Stony Brook) and Reese Miller. Charleston counters with a formidable interior presence in Chol Machot, who recorded 15 points, 15 rebounds and seven blocks against Elon, and scorer Martin Kalu. The game marks the conference opener for both teams. William & Mary’s strong start has been built largely at home, while this begins a stretch where they play five of their first seven CAA games on the road. Charleston aims to protect its home court, where it is 6-2 this season. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST Monday. William & Mary visits Monmouth next on Jan. 8, while Charleston hosts Hampton on Jan. 10.