STEWART MANOR, N.Y. (Interstat) — In a Colonial Athletic Association defensive struggle defined more by grit and rim protection than offensive artistry, the College of Charleston Cougars staged a second-half comeback to edge the Hofstra Pride 66-64 on Thursday night at the Mack Sports Complex.

The game, played before an announced crowd of 1,444, saw the Cougars overcome a seven-point halftime deficit by clamping down defensively and relying on the scoring of Jlynn Counter and the interior presence of Christian Reeves. The victory improved Charleston’s record to 14-8 overall, while Hofstra fell to 13-9.

The first half belonged largely to the Pride, who leveraged a 10-for-32 performance from three-point range to build a lead. Hofstra’s Biggie Patterson was particularly effective, scoring 13 of his team-high 21 points before the break, while Preston Edmead orchestrated the offense. Charleston, meanwhile, sputtered offensively, shooting just 3 of 18 from beyond the arc and 25 of 66 overall for the game. The Cougars went into the locker room trailing 30-23.

The second half narrative shifted dramatically. Charleston’s defense, which registered 10 blocks for the game, began to consistently disrupt Hofstra’s rhythm. Seven-foot freshman Chol Machot of Melbourne, Australia, was a pivotal deterrent off the bench, recording five blocks in just 16 minutes, several at critical junctures.

Fueling the comeback was Jlynn Counter. The junior guard from Oklahoma City shook off a quiet first half to pour in 22 points, 18 of which came after halftime. He attacked the basket relentlessly, and his three-pointer with 5:44 remaining gave Charleston a 53-50 lead, its first since the opening minutes. Counter added five assists and two blocks in 34 minutes.

Christian Reeves, the 7-foot-1 center from Charlotte, North Carolina, provided a crucial secondary option, scoring all 16 of his points in the second half. His activity on the offensive glass, part of a 14-rebound team effort there, generated key second-chance opportunities for a Cougar team that managed only three assists total.

Hofstra’s offense, which finished with an offensive rating of 92.3 on 69 possessions, went cold at inopportune times. After shooting well from deep early, the Pride finished 10 of 32 from long range and a stark 2 of 5 from the free throw line. Patterson’s 21 points and Edmead’s 18 points and seven assists were not enough to offset the team’s 26-of-78 shooting performance.

The final minute encapsulated the tense, defensive nature of the contest. With Charleston leading 64-62, Hofstra’s Silas Sunday converted a layup with 38 seconds left to tie the game. On the ensuing possession, Counter was fouled and made both free throws to restore a two-point Cougar lead with 11 seconds remaining.

Hofstra had two final chances to tie or win. After a timeout, Cruz Davis missed a three-pointer, but Preston Edmead secured the offensive rebound. His rushed jumper from near the free-throw line as time expired missed the mark, sealing the narrow road victory for Charleston.

The game’s most pivotal sequence occurred midway through the second half as Charleston erased the deficit. Trailing 42-38, the Cougars embarked on a 12-3 run over a four-minute span. The surge was fueled entirely by defense and interior scoring. It included a block by Machot, a steal by Machot leading to a transition opportunity, and six consecutive points from Reeves in the paint, either on putbacks or feeds from Counter. This stretch turned a four-point deficit into a 50-45 lead, giving Charleston a cushion it would not fully relinquish.

Beyond Counter and Reeves, Connor Hickman added eight points for Charleston. For Hofstra, Sunday contributed six points and three blocks.

The game, which featured eight turnovers by each team, fell well below the pregame over/under line of 149.5. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Charleston had a narrow 50.10% probability to win, though Hofstra was a 4-point betting favorite pregame.

Both teams return to CAA action on Saturday. College of Charleston travels to face Northeastern, while Hofstra visits Monmouth. The two teams will meet again in a rematch in Charleston on Thursday, Feb. 12.