After leading 16-13 with 12:49 left in the first half, College of Charleston (18-6, 10-4 Southern Conference) scored 15 unanswered points to take a 31-13 lead on an Antoine Wiggins dunk with 7:55 until halftime. Donavan Monroe led the run with eight points.

The Cougars had their biggest lead, 37-13, on a Jermaine Johnson layup with 3:50 left in the first half.

The Coutamounts (12-12, 7-7) managed to pull within 67-64 on a Harouna Mutombo layup with 3:13 remaining, but couldn't pull any closer.

Monroe scored 16 points for the Cougars and Dustin Scott and Antwaine Wiggins tallied 10 each.

Mutumbo paced Western Carolina with 25 points and Brandon Giles added 16.