TOWSON, Md. – It took extra time, but the College of Charleston men's basketball team took down the preseason CAA favorite Towson Tigers 76-74 in overtime to end 2022 with their 13^th straight victory. The win avenges two losses from the 2021-2022 season.

Charleston started the game on an 11-0 run behind eight points from Ante Brzovic, holding Towson scoreless the first four minutes of the contest. The Tigers followed up the Cougars' hot start with a 7-0 run of their own, holding Charleston scoreless for nearly three minutes.

The Cougars were a perfect 6-6 from the field 11 minutes in and shot just under 50% in the frame. Charleston regained a ten-point advantage at 23-13 after a Reyne Smith triple to hold on for a 35-25 advantage entering the locker room.

Towson went scoreless from the field during a seven-minute stretch that saw the Cougars sink seven triples compared to just one for the Tigers.

The three proved to be key for the Cougars in the second half to withstand the Towson comeback with Ryan Larson, Ben Burnham and Pat Robinson III all ending mini-Towson runs from behind the arc. Charleston matched a season-high 17 turnovers with ten minutes to play as Towson posted 15 of their own the back-and-forth battle.

The Tigers tied the game at 66-66 with 1:18 to play in regulation and took the lead at 68-66 on a floating jump shot. Doing what he does best, Smith gave Charleston the one-point advantage 69-68 on a three-pointer, his second of the afternoon.

Charleston fouled Towson with two seconds remaining with the Tiger successfully converting on to tie the game yet again. A long toss from Larson at the buzzer was off the mark to send the game to overtime, the Cougars second trip to extra time this season.

The teams continue suit with the rest of the contest playing back-and-forth ball. Two Robinson III free-throws and a Smith defensive rebound sealed the victory for the Cougars, their 13^th straight for the longest winning streak in the country.

Key Cougars

• Brzovic posted his second double-double of the season with a career-high 22 points and 12 rebounds
• Larson went 4-for-7 from three with five assists while Smith grabbed a career-high four steals in addition to his game defining moments

Game Notes

• Today marked the eighth time this season the Cougars scored at least ten three-pointers.
• The Cougars' 24 turnovers were a season-high

Up Next

• Charleston will travel to Greensboro, North Carolina, to take on league newcomer North Carolina A&T on Wednesday, January 4.
• The game will Charleston's first appearance of the season on CBS Sports Network. Action is set for 5:00 p.m.