Charleston Cougars Defeat Hampton Pirates 85-71
Thursday, February 26, 2026, 11:00 AM ET · Convocation Center (VA)
Charleston Cougars 85, Hampton Pirates 71, 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 Hampton Pirates?
Charleston Cougars beat Hampton Pirates 85-71 at Convocation Center (VA) on February 26, 2026.
Who was favored in Charleston Cougars vs Hampton Pirates?
Charleston Cougars were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -270 (about 73% implied). The favorite won.
The Charleston Cougars secured an impressive 85-71 victory over the Hampton Pirates in a matchup that showcased the disparity in recent form between the two teams. The Cougars, boasting a strong away record of 20-10, have been on a roll, winning their last three games, while the Pirates have struggled, losing their last three and finishing the season with a 12-17 record.
In the lead-up to the game, Charleston's recent form was highlighted by an 8-2 record over their last ten games, averaging 73.6 points scored and allowing 68.6 points per game. Their last five games saw them average 67.2 points while allowing just 64.6, indicating a solid defensive effort. In contrast, Hampton's form has been less than stellar, with a 4-6 record in their last ten games. They averaged 66.4 points scored but allowed 72.1 points during that stretch, a trend that continued in this matchup as they conceded 85 points.
The game took place at the Convocation Center in Virginia, where the Pirates had a home record of 4-1 in their last five games. However, their overall home performance did not translate into success against the Cougars, who have proven to be a formidable opponent. Historically, Charleston has had the upper hand in their previous meetings, winning both encounters this season, with scores of 74-70 and 94-67 in earlier matchups.
In terms of player performance, the Cougars were led by Christian Reeves, who made a significant impact with a layup and a tip-in during the second half, contributing to the team's scoring surge. The Pirates' attempts to close the gap were thwarted by the Cougars' effective shooting and defensive strategies. Jlynn Counter also played a crucial role for Charleston, making several free throws that helped maintain their lead in the closing moments of the game.
The betting lines prior to the game indicated Charleston as the favorites, with DraftKings setting the spread at 5.5 points in favor of the Cougars. The total points line was set at 139.5, reflecting expectations for a competitive scoring affair. The market odds showed Charleston at -270 for the money line, while Hampton was listed at +220.
As the game unfolded, it was clear that the Cougars' recent success and confidence were key factors in their performance. The Pirates, despite their home advantage, struggled to keep pace, ultimately falling short as Charleston continued to capitalize on their scoring opportunities. The final score of 85-71 not only reflects the Cougars' dominance in this matchup but also highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the Pirates as they look to regroup in the remainder of the season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | COFC -5.5 | 139.5 o -112 / u -108 | Charleston Cougars -270 · Hampton Pirates +220 |
Leaders
- PointsXzavier Long14Hampton Pirates
- AssistsKody Williams4Hampton Pirates
- ReboundsXzavier Long9Hampton Pirates
- PointsMartin Kalu21Charleston Cougars
- AssistsChadlyn Traylor7Charleston Cougars
- ReboundsChristian Reeves12Charleston Cougars
Recent form
Hampton Pirates
Last 10: 4-6Streak L366.4 scored · 72.1 allowed per game4-1 at home
- L72-79at Stony Brook SeawolvesFeb 21
- L43-79at Hofstra PrideFeb 20
- L70-71at North Carolina A&T AggiesFeb 14
- W77-74vs William & Mary TribeFeb 7
- W87-79vs Elon PhoenixFeb 6
- L50-82at Towson TigersJan 31
- L51-58at Drexel DragonsJan 30
- L67-75vs UNC Wilmington SeahawksJan 24
- W65-63vs Monmouth HawksJan 23
- W82-61vs North Carolina A&T AggiesJan 20
Charleston Cougars
Last 10: 8-2Streak W373.6 scored · 68.6 allowed per game4-0 away
- W74-63vs Monmouth HawksFeb 21
- W74-61at North Carolina A&T AggiesFeb 20
- W62-57at Campbell Fighting CamelsFeb 15
- L62-66vs Hofstra PrideFeb 13
- L64-76vs UNC Wilmington SeahawksFeb 10
- W78-62vs North Carolina A&T AggiesFeb 6
- W89-84at Northeastern HuskiesJan 31
- W66-64at Hofstra PrideJan 30
- W80-70vs Elon PhoenixJan 24
- W87-83vs Campbell Fighting CamelsJan 23
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 | Hampton Pirates |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 30-57 | 23-57 |
| Field goal % | 53 | 40 |
| Three-pointers | 5-11 | 10-29 |
| Three-point % | 45 | 34 |
| Free throws | 20-29 | 15-19 |
| Free throw % | 69 | 79 |
| Rebounds | 40 | 26 |
| Offensive rebounds | 12 | 7 |
| Defensive rebounds | 28 | 19 |
| Assists | 20 | 14 |
| Steals | 7 | 7 |
| Blocks | 4 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 10 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 1 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 19 | 13 |
| Fast-break points | 19 | 7 |
| Points in the paint | 46 | 20 |
| Fouls | 16 | 21 |
| Largest lead | 20 | 0 |
| Lead changes | 0 | 0 |
| Time in front | 99 | 0 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half50-37Martin Kalu makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-37Martin Kalu makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half51-39Kody Williams makes 16-foot pullup jump shot (Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt assists)
- 2nd Half53-39Jlynn Counter makes layup
- 2nd Half55-39Jlynn Counter makes layup
- 2nd Half55-40Michael Eley makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-41Michael Eley makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-41Martin Kalu makes layup (Chris Davis Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half59-41Connor Hickman makes layup
- 2nd Half61-41Jlynn Counter makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half61-43Eunique Rink makes layup (Christian Watson assists)
- 2nd Half61-46Christian Watson makes 22-foot three point jumper (Kody Williams assists)
- 2nd Half63-46Christian Reeves makes 3-foot dunk (Chadlyn Traylor assists)
- 2nd Half63-48Michael Eley makes 16-foot jumper
- 2nd Half64-48Chris Davis Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-48Chris Davis Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half65-50Michael Eley makes layup (Josh Ogundele assists)
- 2nd Half67-50Christian Reeves makes layup (Chris Davis Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half70-50Colby Duggan makes 25-foot three point jumper (Chadlyn Traylor assists)
- 2nd Half70-53Daniel Johnson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Aidan Haskins assists)
- 2nd Half72-53Chol Machot makes layup (Jlynn Counter assists)
- 2nd Half72-56Daniel Johnson makes 26-foot three point jumper (Etienne Strothers assists)
- 2nd Half72-58Daniel Johnson makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half73-58Connor Hickman makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-58Connor Hickman makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half76-58Martin Kalu makes layup (Chol Machot assists)
- 2nd Half76-59Josh Ogundele makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half76-60Josh Ogundele makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half76-63Josh Ogundele makes 25-foot three point jumper (Aidan Haskins assists)
- 2nd Half76-64Xzavier Long makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half76-65Xzavier Long makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half76-68Xzavier Long makes 25-foot three point jumper (Kody Williams assists)
- 2nd Half77-68Martin Kalu makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half78-68Martin Kalu makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half80-68Christian Reeves makes layup (Colby Duggan assists)
- 2nd Half81-68Jlynn Counter makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half82-68Jlynn Counter makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half83-68Jlynn Counter makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half83-71Etienne Strothers makes 29-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half85-71Christian Reeves makes 0-foot tip in layup
Win probability
Above the line favours Hampton Pirates, below favours Charleston Cougars.
Venue
- Convocation Center (VA)Hampton, VA
- Attendance1017
- OfficialsMatt Oblas, Michael Luckie, Scott Bennett
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