CHARLESTON, S.C. (Interstat) — A pivotal Colonial Athletic Association matchup with nearly identical records and a recent nail-biter in the series history will unfold Saturday when the Elon Phoenix visit the College of Charleston Cougars at TD Arena.

Both teams enter the 4 p.m. contest at 12-8 overall, adding stakes to the conference standings. The Cougars won the first meeting this season, 85-81, at Elon on Dec. 31.

Elon seeks to rebound from a 72-59 home loss to Towson on Thursday, a game where leading scorer Chandler Cuthrell managed 17 points. The Phoenix had won three straight prior to that defeat. Cuthrell has been a consistent offensive force, averaging 20.6 points over his last seven games, including a 28-point outburst against Northeastern and 23 in a road win at Hofstra last weekend.

Charleston arrives home after a hard-fought 87-83 victory over Campbell on Thursday. The Cougars are powered by guard Jlynn Counter, who nearly posted a triple-double in the first matchup against Elon with 16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. Counter is averaging 20.1 points and 6.7 assists over his last seven contests, including a 29-point performance against Drexel and 28 in a double-overtime loss at Stony Brook.

The Phoenix will need to contain Counter’s playmaking and find scoring beyond Cuthrell to improve on the road, where they are 3-2 in their last five away games. Charleston has protected its home court well this season and will rely on its backcourt duo of Counter and Connor Hickman, who scored 18 against Campbell, to set the tempo.

The game features two of the CAA’s top offensive talents in Cuthrell and Counter, whose duel could decide a critical conference result for two teams jockeying for position in the league race.