Charleston Cougars Edge Elon Phoenix in Close Contest
Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 2:00 PM ET · Schar Center
Charleston Cougars 85, Elon Phoenix 81, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Charleston Cougars vs Elon Phoenix?
Charleston Cougars beat Elon Phoenix 85-81 at Schar Center on December 31, 2025.
Who was favored in Charleston Cougars vs Elon Phoenix?
Elon Phoenix were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -148 (about 60% implied). The underdog won.
The Charleston Cougars secured an impressive victory over the Elon Phoenix with a final score of 85-81, marking a significant achievement for the Cougars in this matchup. Both teams entered the game with identical records of 9-6, making this contest a pivotal moment in their seasons. The game took place at the Schar Center, where the Phoenix had a home record of 4-2, while the Cougars boasted a 4-3 record on the road.
In terms of recent form, Elon had been on a positive trajectory, winning six of their last ten games, including a two-game winning streak leading into this matchup. Their last five games showed an average of 87.8 points scored and 77.0 points allowed, indicating a high-scoring offense but a somewhat vulnerable defense. The Phoenix's latest victory was a commanding 103-91 win against the Northeastern Huskies, which showcased their offensive capabilities.
Conversely, Charleston was also riding a wave of momentum, having won four consecutive games. Their recent performance included an average of 77.6 points scored and 72.6 points allowed in their last five games. The Cougars' most recent win was a solid 72-63 triumph over the Drexel Dragons, demonstrating their ability to compete effectively on both ends of the floor.
Historically, the Phoenix have struggled against the Cougars, with a head-to-head record of 0-2 in the current season. In their previous meetings, Elon lost 62-76 at home and 83-88 away, highlighting the challenges they faced against this opponent. This game was crucial for Elon to turn the tide in their rivalry, but they ultimately fell short.
Injuries were not a significant factor affecting either team in this contest, allowing both squads to field their strongest lineups. The absence of key players can often shift the dynamics of a game, but both teams were able to compete at full strength.
The betting market reflected a close contest, with DraftKings setting the spread at -2.5 in favor of Elon and a total of 155.5 points for the game. The odds indicated a competitive matchup, with the home team slightly favored to win.
Conditions for the game were typical for a late December evening, with fans filling the arena to support their teams. The atmosphere was charged, adding to the intensity of the contest.
As the game progressed, viewers witnessed a back-and-forth battle, with both teams exchanging leads. In the second half, Charleston maintained composure under pressure, executing key plays that ultimately secured their victory. Notable scoring plays included Ja'Juan Carr's layup assisted by Bryson Cokley, which pushed the Cougars ahead, and Jlynn Counter's free throws that extended their lead in the closing moments. Bryson Cokley also contributed significantly with a crucial turnaround jump shot that sealed the game.
This matchup not only highlighted the competitive nature of both teams but also set the stage for future encounters, as each side looks to build on their respective performances moving forward.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | ELON -2.5 | 155.5 o -112 / u -108 | Charleston Cougars +124 · Elon Phoenix -148 |
Leaders
- PointsBryson Cokley23Elon Phoenix
- AssistsJa'Juan Carr7Elon Phoenix
- ReboundsChandler Cuthrell6Elon Phoenix
- PointsMartin Kalu19Charleston Cougars
- AssistsJlynn Counter9Charleston Cougars
- ReboundsChol Machot15Charleston Cougars
Recent form
Elon Phoenix
Last 10: 6-4Streak W284.4 scored · 77.7 allowed per game4-2 at home
- W103-91vs Northeastern HuskiesDec 30
- W97-63vs Greensboro PrideDec 22
- L81-82at Virginia Tech HokiesDec 20
- W73-70vs Richmond SpidersDec 18
- W85-79vs Northern Illinois HuskiesDec 13
- W73-52at Wofford TerriersDec 6
- L88-97vs Furman PaladinsDec 4
- L84-91vs Mercer BearsNov 29
- W88-53at App State MountaineersNov 24
- L72-99at Miami HurricanesNov 21
Charleston Cougars
Last 10: 6-4Streak W473.3 scored · 72.8 allowed per game2-1 away
- W72-63vs Drexel DragonsDec 30
- W85-74at Northern Kentucky NorseDec 21
- W82-78vs The Citadel BulldogsDec 18
- W74-67vs Charlotte 49ersDec 14
- L75-81at South Florida BullsDec 11
- L73-96vs Belmont BruinsNov 30
- W78-59at Evansville Purple AcesNov 24
- L63-74vs Yale BulldogsNov 23
- W69-65vs Massachusetts MinutemenNov 21
- L62-71vs Drake BulldogsNov 18
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNC Wilmington | 27-7 | - | 15-3 |
| Charleston | 21-11 | 1 | 14-4 |
| Hofstra | 24-11 | 3 | 12-6 |
| Monmouth | 19-15 | 4 | 11-7 |
| William & Mary | 20-12 | 5 | 10-8 |
| Drexel | 17-16 | 5 | 10-8 |
| Towson | 19-15 | 6 | 9-9 |
| Stony Brook | 17-15 | 6 | 9-9 |
| Campbell | 16-18 | 7 | 8-10 |
| Hampton | 13-19 | 8 | 7-11 |
| Elon | 14-18 | 9 | 6-12 |
| North Carolina A&T | 11-19 | 11 | 4-14 |
| Northeastern | 7-24 | 13 | 2-16 |
Box score
| Stat | Charleston Cougars | Elon Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 26-59 | 30-68 |
| Field goal % | 44 | 44 |
| Three-pointers | 7-23 | 8-28 |
| Three-point % | 30 | 29 |
| Free throws | 26-29 | 13-20 |
| Free throw % | 90 | 65 |
| Rebounds | 43 | 32 |
| Offensive rebounds | 11 | 10 |
| Defensive rebounds | 32 | 22 |
| Assists | 13 | 19 |
| Steals | 4 | 4 |
| Blocks | 7 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 6 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 2 | 1 |
| Technical fouls, total | 2 | 1 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 11 | 14 |
| Fast-break points | 10 | 9 |
| Points in the paint | 34 | 42 |
| Fouls | 21 | 20 |
| Largest lead | 14 | 2 |
| Lead changes | 2 | 2 |
| Time in front | 89 | 2 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half54-43Jlynn Counter makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half54-45Isaac Harrell makes layup (DeMarco Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half57-45Chadlyn Traylor makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half58-45Jaxon Prunty makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-45Jaxon Prunty makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half59-48Bryson Cokley makes 24-foot three point jumper (Ja'Juan Carr assists)
- 2nd Half62-48Martin Kalu makes 25-foot three point jumper (Chadlyn Traylor assists)
- 2nd Half62-51Ja'Juan Carr makes 25-foot three point jumper (Chandler Cuthrell assists)
- 2nd Half64-51Jlynn Counter makes layup
- 2nd Half64-53Bryson Cokley makes 14-foot pullup jump shot (Ja'Juan Carr assists)
- 2nd Half64-54Ja'Juan Carr makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half64-55Ja'Juan Carr makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-55Connor Hickman makes 20-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half66-58Bryson Cokley makes 26-foot three point jumper (Ned Hull assists)
- 2nd Half68-58Chris Davis Jr. makes layup (Jlynn Counter assists)
- 2nd Half68-59Isaac Harrell makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half68-60Isaac Harrell makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half68-61Isaac Harrell makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Half70-61Jaxon Prunty makes layup
- 2nd Half70-63Bryson Cokley makes 13-foot pullup jump shot (Ja'Juan Carr assists)
- 2nd Half72-63Chol Machot makes 3-foot dunk (Jlynn Counter assists)
- 2nd Half72-66Chandler Cuthrell makes 25-foot three point jumper (Ja'Juan Carr assists)
- 2nd Half73-66Jlynn Counter makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-66Jlynn Counter makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half74-69Randall Pettus II makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot (Kacper Klaczek assists)
- 2nd Half75-69Jlynn Counter makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half76-69Jlynn Counter makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half76-71Chandler Cuthrell makes driving layup
- 2nd Half78-71Jlynn Counter makes driving layup
- 2nd Half78-73Chandler Cuthrell makes layup (Ja'Juan Carr assists)
- 2nd Half79-73Jlynn Counter makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half80-73Jlynn Counter makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half80-75Ja'Juan Carr makes layup (Bryson Cokley assists)
- 2nd Half80-77Isaac Harrell makes layup (Ja'Juan Carr assists)
- 2nd Half82-77Martin Kalu makes layup (Jlynn Counter assists)
- 2nd Half83-77Jlynn Counter makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half84-77Jlynn Counter makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half84-78Bryson Cokley makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half85-78Connor Hickman makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half85-81Bryson Cokley makes 23-foot turnaround jump shot
Win probability
Above the line favours Elon Phoenix, below favours Charleston Cougars.
Venue
- Schar CenterElon, NC
- OfficialsJ.W. Lucas, Trey Styons, Connor Penn
Elsewhere
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- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond
Picks for NCAAB
NCAAB rules and settlement
These two, other days
- Charleston Cougars Defeat Elon Phoenix 80-70Jan 24, 2026