CHARLESTON, S.C. – Three Phoenix scored a combined 50 points, but the Elon men's basketball team never led in an 80-70 loss at College of Charleston on Saturday afternoon at TD Arena.
 
The Phoenix (12-9, 4-4 CAA) was led by Chandler Cuthrell's 20 points and seven rebounds. Randall Pettus II added 16 points, while Bryson Cokley finished with 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting and five rebounds in his first career start. Ja'Juan Carr scored nine points and dished out a team-leading five assists.
 
The Cougars (13-8, 6-2) attacked the paint early, building a lead as large as 14 points midway through the first half. Elon responded by outscoring Charleston 15-9 over the final eight minutes to cut the deficit to 35-27 at halftime. Cokley led all Phoenix with 11 points in the opening frame, knocking down all three of his 3-pointers in the first 20 minutes.
 
Elon trimmed another double-digit deficit to six points in the second half when Cuthrell and Pettus combined for a 9-0 run to make it 61-55 with 6:18 left, but Charleston answered with a 9-2 run of its own, fueled by five straight points from Colby Duggan.
 
Charleston was paced by Christian Reeves' 29-point, 18-rebound double-double. Duggan added 17 points.
 
The Phoenix shot 60% on 2-pointers (21-of-35) but went 5-of-28 from 3-point range.
 
NOTES

• Elon has lost two straight games for the first time since Nov. 29-Dec. 3.
• Charleston completed the two-game regular-season sweep of the Phoenix and extended its win streak to nine in the 41-game series.
• Elon scored 26 of its 34 paint points in the second half, shooting 14-of-18 inside the 3-point arc in that span.
• Cuthrell reached 20 points for the 15th time in 21 games this season.
• Cokley knocked down multiple 3-pointers for the 12th time this season. It was his 15th game with double-figure points.
• It was just the sixth time this season Elon committed more turnovers (12) than assists (10).
• Elon tallied 11 steals, its most in a CAA contest this season. Pettus led the way, tying a season high with four.
• Cokley started in place of Kacper Klaczek, who did not play after sustaining an injury during Elon's loss to Towson on Thursday.

 
UP NEXT
The Phoenix hosts William & Mary next Thursday. Tipoff at Schar Center is set for 7 p.m. ET.
 
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