Cougar Men's Basketball Returns to Action

Monday, November 3

Charleston, S.C.

7:00 PM

College of Charleston

Tusculum

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11/2/2025 10:43:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Watch Listen Live Stats SeatGeek Secondary Market Digital Program Game Notes

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The College of Charleston men's basketball team opens the 2025-26 season November 3 vs. Tusculum at TD Arena. Action is set for 7:00 p.m. on FloCollege.

GAME NOTES

Chris Mack returns for his second season as head coach for the Cougars, welcoming 13 newcomers and three returners from a season ago.
The program enters 2025-26 with 1,383 recorded total wins.
The Cougars were picked to finish third by the league's coaches, receiving one first place vote and 130 total points. Towson was picked as the front runner, collecting seven first place votes and 136 points. UNCW received the remaining five first place votes with 132 points.
Charleston joins Towson as the only two schools with more than one representative on the All-CAA First and Second teams with Colby Duggan earning a spot on the All-CAA First Team and Mister Dean being named to the All-CAA Second Team. Duggan was a unanimous first team selection after transferring to Charleston from CAA foe Campbell.
The Cougars are ranked No. 13 in the preseason College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 and No. 8 in the Field of 68 MidMajor Top 25.
This is the second consecutive season Tusculum has visited TD Arena. The Cougars won last season's meeting 94-71. Djordje Curcic, who joins Jaxon Prunty and Joey Scarpitti as returning players from the 2024-25 team, played 20 minutes in the contest scoring eight points.
Of Charleston's nine upperclassmen transfer, seven averaged double-digit points per game at their last stop while three are 1,000 career point scorers.

TD ARENA SELLOUT (AGAIN)

For the third consecutive season, the department has sold out men's basketball season tickets in TD Arena prior to the start of the 2025-26 season. This season was historic, selling out in quicker fashion than the 2024-25 season.
Since the 2022 season, the Cougars are 82-21 overall and 43-5 at TD Arena with 39 consecutive sellouts. The streak is the eighth longest sellout streak in Division 1 men's basketball.
There will be no single-game tickets for sale through the College of Charleston Ticket Office. Fans still looking to purchase tickets are reminded to visit SeatGeek, our official secondary ticket marketplace. You can check SeatGeek for potential ticket availability or additional seating options by clicking HERE.

VETERAN PRESENCE

Of the Cougars' nine upperclassman transfers, seven averaged double figures points per game at their previous stop - Colby Duggan (15.7ppg, Campbell), Mister Dean (15.7 ppg, USC Upstate), Connor Hickman (14.5 ppg, Bradley), Chol Machot (11.6, Florida SouthWestern), Will Mortimore (11.0 ppg, Colorado Mesa), Kendall Taylor (24.4 ppg, Wingate), and Jlynn Counter (10.6 ppg, MTSU).
The Cougars boast three 1,000 career point scorers in Jlynn Counter (1,191), Connor Hickman (1,009), Kendall Taylor (1,151).

ROOKIES ON THE RISE

True freshman Chris Davis Jr. , Chadlyn Traylor, and Martin Kalu will look to make an immediate impact for Charleston.
Traylor, a 6-3 point guard from Charlotte, N.C., was a McDonald's All-American nominee at North Mecklenburg Hugh School. He averaged 3.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game and has been a part of three state title teams, his first coming at the 3A level as a freshman at West Charlotte. Traylor played for Team Curry on the Under Armour circuit.
Davis Jr., a 6-4 guard from Madison, Wisconsin, comes to Charleston as the No. 5 all-time scorer in Wisconsin high school. The first ever Cougar basketball player from Wisconsin, Davis Jr. finished his high school career with 2,688 points.
Kalu, a 6-6 guard from Quakenbrück, Germany represented Team Germany in the 2025 FIBA U20 Eurobasket, averaging 15.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg and 1.3 apg. The 20-year old played for Basketball Loewen Braunschweig in the BBL, the top tier of German basketball.

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS

J.T. Burton leads Tusculum in his eighth season as the program's head coach. The 2024-25 squad went 6-22 overall and 6-18 in the South Atlantic Conference (NCAA Division II).
The Pioneers were picked to finish ninth in the 2025-26 SAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll. Graduate guard Bryce Jackson was named to the Preseason All-SAC First team while junior forward TJ Printup was named a Player to Watch.
Senior Malachi Hale led Tusculum a season ago at TD Arena with 15 points and three rebounds.

GAME DAY REMINDERS

Doors will open 1.5 hours prior to tip-off.
Concession stands will open when doors open, and the Cougar Spirit Shop will open one hour prior to tip-off.
Add your tickets to your Apple Wallet or Google Pay App prior to arriving at TD Arena for the smoothest entry experience.
Don't forget the College of Charleston has implemented a Clear Bag Policy for athletics events. CLICK HERE to read the policy.
An ADA drop-off lane is provided in the right-hand lane traveling along Meeting Street next to TD Arena.

ALCOHOL BEVERAGE RETAIL SALES AND SERVICE REGUALTIONS
In order to sell and/or serve an alcoholic beverage in TD Arena, the following requirements apply:

Moving forward, a valid ID is required to be scanned/swiped for each transaction.
Vertical IDs will not be accepted at sales locations regardless of the individual's age.
All ID checks will be handled directly by our Aramark concession partners at each stand. EPI staff will no longer check ID's or provide wristbands.
No more than two (2) alcoholic beverages may be sold or served per transaction.

Magnetometer Security Feature

As fans enter the main entrance of TD Arena on November 3, they will see new walk-through magnetometers, or metal detectors. In addition to the existing Clear Bag and prohibited items policy at TD Arena, the magnetometers are a new added security feature to enhance the safety of our fans.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Fans will enter TD Arena at the Meeting Street entrance.
Once inside, fans will be asked to take their belongings out of their pockets and place them in a bin. This includes phone, wallet, keys, etc.
1. If you bring a bag compliant with the Clear Bag policy, your items can be placed in the bag.
EPI security staff will provide guidance on when to walk through the magnetometer and assist in retrieving your belongings after you clear through the magnetometer.
Finally, approach the pedestal ticket scanners at the base of the stairs, scan your tickets, and cheer on the Cougars!

HOW TO WATCH

Fans can watch the broadcast live on FloCollege or listen to the Varsity App with the Voice of the Cougars Everett German and Danny Johnson on both calls.

For complete coverage of Charleston men's basketball, follow us on X (@CofCBasketball) and Instagram (@CofCBasketball).