CHARLESTON, S.C. (Interstat) — In a game defined by runs and resilience, the College of Charleston Cougars held off a persistent Charlotte 49ers squad for a 74-67 victory in a non-conference men’s basketball game Sunday at TD Arena.

A crowd of 4,969 watched as the Cougars improved to 5-6 overall, while Charlotte fell to 4-7.

The most critical phase of the contest unfolded late in the second half, transforming a tight battle into a decisive advantage for the home team. With just over three minutes remaining and Charleston leading 62-60, the Cougars’ Jlynn Counter seized control. The guard from Oklahoma City first converted a driving layup, then moments later intercepted a Charlotte pass and finished the ensuing fast break with a three-point jumper, pushing the lead to 65-60 and forcing a Charlotte timeout.

Counter was not finished. Out of the timeout, he drew a foul and hit a free throw, then scored on another layup to cap a personal 8-0 run that extended the Charleston lead to 69-60 with 2:16 to play. Charlotte, which had fought back from deficits all afternoon, could not recover from that sudden burst. Counter scored 11 of his team-high 17 points in the final 6:20, including that crucial seven-point flurry in a 90-second span.

The game’s foundation, however, was built in the first half. Charlotte’s Anton Bonke, the 7-foot-2 center from Port Vila, Vanuatu, won the opening tip and immediately threw down an alley-oop dunk for the game’s first points. But Charleston responded with a 10-0 run, fueled by the hot shooting of German forward Martin Kalu. Kalu, who finished with a game-high 18 points, hit three first-half three-pointers as the Cougars built a lead they would never fully relinquish.

Charlotte stayed within striking distance through defensive activity, forcing 12 Charleston turnovers and recording 10 steals. The 49ers also got a strong performance from guard Damoni Harrison of Atlanta, who scored 15 points. Every time Charleston threatened to pull away, Charlotte found an answer, often from Harrison or Bonke, who added 12 points and three blocks.

The Cougars took a 39-33 lead into halftime, thanks largely to efficient shooting, hitting 48.3% from the field in the opening period. Charlotte struggled from deep, making just 7 of 29 three-point attempts for the game, a 24.1% clip. Charleston was not much better at 6-for-20 from beyond the arc, but their work inside and at the free-throw line, where they made 10 of 16 attempts, proved sufficient.

Charlotte opened the second half with purpose, trimming the deficit to four points on several occasions. A Spencer Elliott layup brought the 49ers to within 45-43 with 15:50 remaining, prompting a Charleston timeout. The Cougars steadied themselves, maintaining a two-to-three possession cushion for much of the half until Counter’s late-game heroics provided the final, insurmountable separation.

Beyond Counter and Kalu, Charleston received 13 points and a block from 7-foot-1 center Christian Reeves of Charlotte, North Carolina, and 11 points from Chris Davis. For Charlotte, Ethan Butler of Toronto contributed 10 points off the bench.

The game was a statistical oddity in its symmetry. Both teams attempted 58 field goals, with Charleston making 29 and Charlotte making 24. Each team recorded four blocks. The 49ers won the assist battle 10-5 and the turnover margin, committing nine to Charleston’s 12, but the Cougars’ superior shooting percentage and clutch execution down the stretch made the difference.

Charlotte returns home to face Lafayette on Thursday. College of Charleston hosts The Citadel on Wednesday.