Charleston Cougars Defeat Northern Kentucky Norse 85-74
Sunday, December 21, 2025, 12:00 PM ET · Truist Arena
Charleston Cougars 85, Northern Kentucky Norse 74, 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 Northern Kentucky Norse?
Charleston Cougars beat Northern Kentucky Norse 85-74 at Truist Arena on December 21, 2025.
Who was favored in Charleston Cougars vs Northern Kentucky Norse?
Northern Kentucky Norse were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -218 (about 69% implied). The underdog won.
In an impressive display, the Charleston Cougars triumphed over the Northern Kentucky Norse with a final score of 85-74 at Truist Arena on December 21, 2025. This victory marks a significant achievement for Charleston, as they improve their head-to-head record against Northern Kentucky to 1-0 after having previously defeated them 79-64 in their last meeting on November 27, 2024.
Entering the game, Northern Kentucky held a home record of 9-5, while Charleston had an away record of 7-6. Northern Kentucky had been performing well at home with an 8-2 record in their last ten games, although they were coming off a loss against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies, which snapped a brief winning streak. In their last five games, Northern Kentucky averaged 84.2 points scored while allowing 74.0 points, indicating a strong offensive output but also some defensive vulnerabilities.
Conversely, Charleston entered the contest with a mixed record of 5-5 over their last ten games, but they were riding a two-game winning streak, having recently defeated The Citadel Bulldogs and the Charlotte 49ers. Their scoring average was 74.1 points with a slightly higher average of 74.6 points allowed, suggesting a balanced but less explosive offense compared to Northern Kentucky.
The game was closely contested early on, but Charleston's ability to capitalize on key scoring opportunities in the second half, particularly through Jlynn Counter, proved decisive. Counter's contributions included a series of crucial shots, such as a 9-foot jumper and a 15-foot pullup jump shot, which helped extend Charleston's lead. The Cougars' free-throw shooting in the closing moments, particularly from Djordje Curcic, further solidified their advantage as they converted critical free throws to maintain their lead.
In terms of injury impact, the block did not provide specific details about player injuries affecting either team, but both squads were expected to field their primary rosters. The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Northern Kentucky favored by 5.5 points, with a total set at 153.5. The odds indicated a competitive matchup, reflecting the anticipation surrounding the game.
Weather conditions were not specified, but the indoor venue at Truist Arena typically provides a controlled environment conducive to high-level basketball.
Viewers should have noted Charleston's effective offensive strategies, particularly their ability to execute plays in the second half, as well as Northern Kentucky's reliance on their home crowd to generate momentum. The Cougars' resilience and strategic adjustments ultimately led them to a well-deserved victory, showcasing their potential as a formidable opponent in the league.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | NKU -5.5 | 153.5 o -105 / u -115 | Charleston Cougars +180 · Northern Kentucky Norse -218 |
Leaders
- PointsKael Robinson22Northern Kentucky Norse
- AssistsDan Gherezgher3Northern Kentucky Norse
- ReboundsKael Robinson9Northern Kentucky Norse
- PointsJlynn Counter26Charleston Cougars
- AssistsJlynn Counter6Charleston Cougars
- ReboundsJlynn Counter11Charleston Cougars
Recent form
Northern Kentucky Norse
Last 10: 8-2Streak L186.1 scored · 72.8 allowed per game6-1 at home
- L77-82vs Oakland Golden GrizzliesDec 18
- W80-76at Bellarmine KnightsDec 13
- W92-53vs Brescia BearcatsDec 10
- L77-79at Purdue Fort Wayne MastodonsDec 6
- W95-80vs Cleveland State VikingsDec 4
- W74-65vs Boston University TerriersNov 29
- W93-83vs Wofford TerriersNov 26
- W82-71vs Eastern Kentucky ColonelsNov 25
- W90-66at Central Michigan ChippewasNov 21
- W101-73vs Cumberlands PatriotsNov 16
Charleston Cougars
Last 10: 5-5Streak W274.1 scored · 74.6 allowed per game1-1 away
- 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
- W88-61vs South Carolina State BulldogsNov 15
- L77-94vs Florida Atlantic OwlsNov 8
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 |
| Wright State | 23-12 | - | 15-5 |
| Robert Morris | 22-11 | 2 | 13-7 |
| Green Bay | 18-15 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Detroit Mercy | 17-15 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Oakland | 16-16 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Purdue Fort Wayne | 17-15 | 4 | 11-9 |
| Northern Kentucky | 20-14 | 5 | 10-10 |
| Youngstown State | 15-17 | 7 | 8-12 |
| Milwaukee | 12-20 | 7 | 8-12 |
| Cleveland State | 11-22 | 9 | 6-14 |
| IU Indianapolis | 7-25 | 12 | 3-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Charleston Cougars | Northern Kentucky Norse |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 29-53 | 25-64 |
| Field goal % | 55 | 39 |
| Three-pointers | 7-20 | 10-33 |
| Three-point % | 35 | 30 |
| Free throws | 20-29 | 14-16 |
| Free throw % | 69 | 88 |
| Rebounds | 34 | 33 |
| Offensive rebounds | 9 | 14 |
| Defensive rebounds | 25 | 19 |
| Assists | 13 | 10 |
| Steals | 13 | 12 |
| Blocks | 3 | 0 |
| Turnovers | 15 | 17 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 22 | 17 |
| Fast-break points | 9 | 15 |
| Points in the paint | 40 | 28 |
| Fouls | 17 | 19 |
| Largest lead | 13 | 2 |
| Lead changes | 8 | 8 |
| Time in front | 86 | 6 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half49-42Jlynn Counter makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half49-43Kael Robinson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half49-44Kael Robinson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half49-46Donovan Oday makes layup
- 2nd Half51-46Connor Hickman makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half51-47Dan Gherezgher makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-48Dan Gherezgher makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-48Chol Machot makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-48Chol Machot makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-51LJ Wells makes 26-foot three point jumper (Donovan Oday assists)
- 2nd Half56-51Martin Kalu makes 24-foot three point jumper (Chol Machot assists)
- 2nd Half58-51Chol Machot makes layup (Jlynn Counter assists)
- 2nd Half59-51Chol Machot makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half59-54Kael Robinson makes 23-foot three point jumper (Dan Gherezgher assists)
- 2nd Half61-54Jlynn Counter makes layup
- 2nd Half61-56Dan Gherezgher makes 10-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half61-58Tae Dozier makes 5-foot dunk
- 2nd Half61-60Donovan Oday makes 9-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half61-62Tae Dozier makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half63-62Christian Reeves makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half63-65Donovan Rakotonanahary makes 24-foot three point jumper (Dan Gherezgher assists)
- 2nd Half65-65Jlynn Counter makes layup
- 2nd Half65-66Dan Gherezgher makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-67Dan Gherezgher makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-67Jlynn Counter makes layup
- 2nd Half68-67Jlynn Counter makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-67Jlynn Counter makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-67Connor Hickman makes 4-foot floating jump shot (Jlynn Counter assists)
- 2nd Half74-67Jlynn Counter makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half74-69Donovan Oday makes 0-foot tip in dunk
- 2nd Half76-69Jlynn Counter makes 6-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half76-71Donovan Oday makes layup
- 2nd Half78-71Jlynn Counter makes 9-foot jumper
- 2nd Half80-71Jlynn Counter makes 15-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half81-71Jlynn Counter makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half82-71Jlynn Counter makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half83-71Djordje Curcic makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half84-71Djordje Curcic makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half84-74Kael Robinson makes 24-foot three point jumper (Donovan Oday assists)
- 2nd Half85-74Djordje Curcic makes free throw 1 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Northern Kentucky Norse, below favours Charleston Cougars.
Venue
- Truist ArenaHighland Heights, KY
- Attendance2828
- OfficialsBrian Dorsey, John Floyd, King Whetstone
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