Charleston Cougars Rally Past Temple 91-81

The Charleston Cougars erased a halftime deficit and pulled away late for a 91-81 victory over Temple in NCAA basketball action on November 12, 2026. Charleston's second-half surge, powered by sharp three-point shooting and clutch free throws, turned a tight game into a valuable road win.

Temple led for much of the first half, but Charleston's ball movement and shot-making wore down the Owls after the break. The Cougars outscored Temple 52-38 in the second half to secure the result.

Game Overview

Temple took a 43-39 lead into halftime behind aggressive drives and a strong effort on the offensive glass. Charleston stayed within striking distance by knocking down timely threes and limiting second-chance opportunities after the opening 10 minutes.

For the game, Charleston shot 48% from the field, made 12 three-pointers, and converted 19 of 22 free throws. Temple shot 44% and made nine threes, but the Owls committed 14 turnovers and struggled to contain Charleston's guards in the open floor.

Key Moments

The decisive run came midway through the second half. Trailing 62-59, Charleston rattled off 12 unanswered points over a three-minute stretch, capped by back-to-back three-pointers from Cameron Hayes and Trevor Lang. Temple called timeout, but the Cougars had seized control of the tempo.

Temple cut the lead to five with just under four minutes remaining, but Charleston answered with a patient possession that ended in a layup and followed it with two free throws. The Owls never got closer than seven the rest of the way.

Standout Performers

• Cameron Hayes led Charleston with 24 points, including five three-pointers, and added six rebounds.
• Trevor Lang finished with 18 points and nine assists, directing the offense with poise.
• Malik Osei posted 14 points and 10 rebounds, giving the Cougars a strong interior presence.
• Damian Cross scored 21 for Temple, while Jalen Porter added 17.

Tactical Story

Charleston won this game with spacing and decision-making. The Cougars consistently found the open man against Temple's help defense, and their guards did a good job of attacking closeouts rather than settling for contested jumpers. The 19-of-22 effort at the free-throw line was especially important in the final five minutes.

Temple's defense forced some early mistakes, but the Owls could not sustain that pressure. Charleston's ball-screen actions created mismatches, and when Temple switched, the Cougars attacked the paint. On the other end, Temple got good looks but was hurt by empty possessions during Charleston's decisive run.

Season Impact

The win gives Charleston a quality non-conference result and reinforces its reputation as a team that can score from the perimeter and close games at the line. Temple will view this as a missed opportunity, particularly after leading at halftime and staying within striking distance for most of the second half.

For the Cougars, the performance was a reminder of how dangerous they can be when their guards control pace and their big men clean the glass. For Temple, the focus will be on limiting turnovers and finding more consistent half-court offense down the stretch.