Charleston Cougars Edge The Citadel Bulldogs in Close Match
Wednesday, December 17, 2025, 7:00 PM ET · TD Arena
Charleston Cougars 82, The Citadel Bulldogs 78, 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 The Citadel Bulldogs vs Charleston Cougars?
Charleston Cougars beat The Citadel Bulldogs 82-78 at TD Arena on December 17, 2025.
Who was favored in The Citadel Bulldogs vs Charleston Cougars?
Charleston Cougars were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -1800 (about 95% implied). The favorite won.
In a thrilling encounter at TD Arena, the Charleston Cougars emerged victorious against The Citadel Bulldogs with a final score of 82-78. This matchup was particularly significant as it showcased the Cougars' resilience and ability to secure a win after a mixed run of form.
Charleston, with a home record of 6-6, had been striving to improve their standing in the league. They entered this game with a recent record of 4-6 over their last ten games, including a win against the Charlotte 49ers just days prior, where they won 74-67. The Cougars averaged 73.4 points scored per game while allowing 75.8 points, indicating a tendency for high-scoring games. Their last five games reflected a slight dip in scoring, averaging 72.6 points but still managing to secure two wins.
On the other hand, The Citadel Bulldogs struggled with a 3-9 overall record and had not performed well on the road, holding an away record of 0-4. Their recent form was disappointing, with a record of 2-8 in their last ten games, and they had lost their last game against the South Carolina Gamecocks, 55-71. The Bulldogs averaged 67.5 points scored per game while allowing 76.3 points, which highlighted their defensive challenges.
The previous meeting between these two teams earlier in the season saw Charleston winning decisively, 76-61, indicating a trend in favor of the Cougars. This context added to the anticipation surrounding the game, as fans wondered if The Citadel could turn the tide.
Injuries were not a major concern for either team heading into this matchup, allowing both squads to field their best players. The betting market reflected Charleston's dominance, with DraftKings setting the spread at -17.5 in favor of the Cougars and a total of 146.5 for the game. The moneyline odds were heavily tilted towards Charleston at -1800, while The Citadel was listed at +1000, underscoring the perceived disparity in team strength.
The game itself unfolded in a competitive manner, with both teams exchanging leads throughout. Key moments included Braxton Williams hitting a crucial three-pointer in the second half, which brought the Bulldogs within striking distance. However, Charleston's ability to convert free throws down the stretch, particularly from Martin Kalu and Chol Machot, ultimately sealed the victory for the Cougars.
As the final buzzer sounded, the Cougars' home win probability had reached 1.0, reflecting their strong performance in front of their home crowd. This win not only boosts Charleston's confidence but also adds to their momentum as they look to improve their overall record moving forward. Meanwhile, The Citadel will need to regroup and address their defensive issues as they continue their season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | COFC -17.5 | 146.5 o -105 / u -115 | The Citadel Bulldogs +1000 · Charleston Cougars -1800 |
Leaders
- PointsJlynn Counter22Charleston Cougars
- AssistsJlynn Counter6Charleston Cougars
- ReboundsChristian Reeves10Charleston Cougars
- PointsBraxton Williams24The Citadel Bulldogs
- AssistsCarter Kingsbury6The Citadel Bulldogs
- ReboundsChristian Moore6The Citadel Bulldogs
Recent form
Charleston Cougars
Last 10: 4-6Streak W173.4 scored · 75.8 allowed per game3-4 at home
- 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
- L75-90at Liberty FlamesNov 7
The Citadel Bulldogs
Last 10: 2-8Streak L167.5 scored · 76.3 allowed per game0-4 away
- L55-71at South Carolina GamecocksDec 14
- W98-73vs Southern Wesleyan WarriorsDec 10
- L63-79at Davidson WildcatsDec 5
- L41-69vs Presbyterian Blue HoseNov 30
- L65-72vs Houston Christian HuskiesNov 27
- L58-70vs Bellarmine KnightsNov 25
- W70-57vs North Greenville TrailblazersNov 20
- L92-100at West Georgia WolvesNov 15
- L86-96vs Charleston Southern BuccaneersNov 11
- L47-76at Boston College EaglesNov 7
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Tennessee State | 23-11 | - | 13-5 |
| Mercer | 19-13 | 2 | 11-7 |
| Wofford | 19-13 | 2 | 11-7 |
| Samford | 18-14 | 2 | 11-7 |
| Furman | 22-13 | 3 | 10-8 |
| Western Carolina | 15-16 | 3 | 10-8 |
| UNC Greensboro | 15-19 | 4 | 9-9 |
| Chattanooga | 13-19 | 6 | 7-11 |
| The Citadel | 11-22 | 6 | 7-11 |
| VMI | 6-26 | 12 | 1-17 |
| 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 | The Citadel Bulldogs | Charleston Cougars |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 29-68 | 22-44 |
| Field goal % | 43 | 50 |
| Three-pointers | 14-37 | 7-24 |
| Three-point % | 38 | 29 |
| Free throws | 6-10 | 31-41 |
| Free throw % | 60 | 76 |
| Rebounds | 38 | 33 |
| Offensive rebounds | 12 | 3 |
| Defensive rebounds | 26 | 30 |
| Assists | 16 | 14 |
| Steals | 3 | 5 |
| Blocks | 1 | 6 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 11 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 1 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 15 | 20 |
| Fast-break points | 5 | 14 |
| Points in the paint | 28 | 30 |
| Fouls | 28 | 16 |
| Largest lead | 16 | 7 |
| Lead changes | 9 | 9 |
| Time in front | 52 | 42 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half45-46Jaxon Prunty makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half45-47Jaxon Prunty makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half45-49Connor Hickman makes layup
- 2nd Half48-49Carter Kingsbury makes 26-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half48-50Jlynn Counter makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-51Jlynn Counter makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-51Braxton Williams makes layup (Sola Adebisi assists)
- 2nd Half50-53Jlynn Counter makes layup
- 2nd Half50-55Chol Machot makes 4-foot jumper (Chadlyn Traylor assists)
- 2nd Half52-55Christian Moore makes 7-foot jumper
- 2nd Half53-55Christian Moore makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half53-56Chol Machot makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-57Chol Machot makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-58Jlynn Counter makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-60Jlynn Counter makes 12-foot jumper
- 2nd Half56-60Dante Kearse makes 27-foot three point jumper (Carter Kingsbury assists)
- 2nd Half59-60Logan Applegate makes 24-foot three point jumper (Carter Kingsbury assists)
- 2nd Half59-61Christian Reeves makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-62Christian Reeves makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-62Christian Moore makes layup
- 2nd Half61-64Connor Hickman makes layup
- 2nd Half64-64Logan Applegate makes 26-foot three point jumper (Carter Kingsbury assists)
- 2nd Half64-65Jaxon Prunty makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half64-66Jaxon Prunty makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-66Dante Kearse makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half68-66Braxton Williams makes layup (Christian Moore assists)
- 2nd Half68-69Martin Kalu makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jaxon Prunty assists)
- 2nd Half68-72Martin Kalu makes 27-foot three point jumper (Jlynn Counter assists)
- 2nd Half70-72Sola Adebisi makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half70-75Martin Kalu makes 28-foot three point jumper (Jlynn Counter assists)
- 2nd Half70-76Chol Machot makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half70-77Chol Machot makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-77Braxton Williams makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half75-77Christian Moore makes layup
- 2nd Half75-78Martin Kalu makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half75-79Martin Kalu makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half75-80Connor Hickman makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half75-81Chol Machot makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half75-82Chol Machot makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half78-82Logan Applegate makes 23-foot three point jumper (Eze Wali assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours Charleston Cougars, below favours The Citadel Bulldogs.
Venue
- TD ArenaCharleston, SC
- Attendance4763
- OfficialsJerry Heater, Jeremy Mosier, J.W. Lucas
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