Charleston, SC – Sophomore center Rokas Gustys notched his fifth double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds, but Charleston used a late run to pull away for a 72-61 win over Hofstra on Thursday evening at TD Arena. 

The loss ends a four-game win streak for Hofstra, which drops to 10-4 and 2-1 in Colonial Athletic Association play with the loss. Charleston improved to 10-4 and 2-1 in league action. 

A tight first half would see the game knotted at 22 following a free throw from Nick Harris before Hofstra scored six straight points, including buckets from freshman guard Desure Buie, senior forward Ameen Tanksley and Gustys, to open a 28-22 lead with six minutes left in the opening stanza. 

After the Cougars came back to even the score, two free throws later in the half would push the advantage to five, 35-30, heading into the final two minutes. The game would be tied at 35 in the final minute before a steal from senior forward Malik Nichols led to a basket for senior guard Juan'ya Green to give Hofstra the slight halftime lead. Tanksley keyed the first half for Hofstra as he scored 12 points before intermission. 

Charleston would use a 7-2 run early in the second half to open a 44-41 lead heading into the under-16 media timeout. 

With Charleston leading by two with 12 minutes to play, Gustys would tie the game once again, this time at 49 with 11:48 showing on the clock. 

After a nearly two minute scoring drought by both teams, Charleston would take a seven-point lead following a three-pointer from Marquise Pointer with six minutes remaining in regulation. 

As the game neared its final minutes, Charleston would score six straight points to open a 64-53 advantage with 3:15 to play. An old-fashioned three-point play from graduate forward Denton Koon ended the run and got the deficit under double figures, but that would be as close as Hofstra would get before falling in the tough road contest.

Tanksley tied Gustys for team-high honors with 16 points, while Koon added 13 and Green chipped in with 10 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. 

Pointer led Charleston with 19 points and six assists, while Cameron Johnson added 12 points and six rebounds. 

Hofstra returns to action on Saturday when it travels to Elon for a 6 p.m. game. That contest will air in the New York area on SNY and other markets on the American Sports Network. 

NOTES
- Hofstra is 3-2 all-time against Charleston.
- Green is now 40 points shy of 2,000 for his career. 
- Hofstra outrebounded Charleston, 32-29.