Cougars Open Paradise Jam Against UMass

Friday, November 21

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

3:00 PM EST

College of Charleston

UMass

11/20/2025 3:22:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Live Stats Listen Watch Game Notes

ST. THOMAS, USVI - The College of Charleston men's basketball team travels to St. Thomas for the 2025 Paradise Jam held November 21-24 at the University of the Virgin Islands. The Cougars, who are 2-3 on the year, will open play against UMass on November 21 at 3:00 p.m. est.

STORYLINES

This will be the first ever appearance for the Cougars in the annual ESPN MTE and fourth ever meeting with the Minutemen. Charleston won the last meeting 85-61 on November 26, 2011 at the Battle 4 Atlantis. The Cougars hold the all-time series edge 2-1.
Last season, Charleston played in the 2024 Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii. While the Cougars are in St. Thomas, TD Arena will be hosting the 2025 Shriners Children's Charleston Classic.
Charleston is coming of a 71-62 loss to Drake on Monday, November 3 in Charleston. The loss was just the third under head coach Chris Mack at TD Arena. Jlynn Counter led Charleston with a game-high 21 points, his second 20+ point performance this season, followed by Mister Dean with 12.
The Cougars have produced a positive assist/turnover ratio in four out of five contests so far this season. Charleston committed 11 turnovers vs. Drake with seven assists, the first time the program has not recorded a positive assist/turnover ratio in 2025-26.
Martin Kalu became the first Cougar in the program's Division 1 history to score in double-figures in each of his first four career games. The rookie from Germany totaled 11 points vs. Tusculum, 22 points vs. Liberty, 11 points vs. Florida Atlantic, and 12 points vs. SC State.
Christian Reeves (10) and Jaxon Prunty (7) both grabbed career-high rebounds vs. South Carolina State. The Cougars also totaled eight blocks in the game, the highest of the Mack era, led by Chol Machot's four. He ranks 24th in the nation in blocked shots with ten on the year.
Four Cougars are averaging double-figure scoring through the first five contests, led by Counter with 13.0 followed by Kalu with 12.6, Machot with 11.8, and Dean with 11.5.

SCOUTING THE MINUTEMEN

UMass enters Friday's contest 3-1, most recently defeating Central Connecticut 84-77 on November 16.
Leonardo Bettiol paces the Minutemen averaging 18.5 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game.
Massachusetts basketball enters its fourth season under head coach Frank Martin in 2025-26.

HOW TO WATCH

Friday's game from the University of the Virgin Islands will air on ESPN+ with Brad Wells and Kevin Lehman on the call.
As always, Cougar fans can listen to The Voice of the Cougars Everett German on the Varsity App.