The Charleston Cougars finished the 2004-05 season with a record of 18-10 straight up, including a conference record of 10-6 in the Southern, which was good for a second place finish in the South Division. Charleston failed to have a profitable season against the college basketball gambling boards, however, as they went 11-15 against the number. The Cougars did fade down the stretch however, as they got the cash in just three of their final nine games against the board as they suffered a first round SU&ATS loss to Appalachian State in the Southern Conference tournament by a score of 60-63 as 2.5-point chalks.
Tough read at the start
Charleston began the 2005-06 season with an unlined 77-82 neutral court loss to Charleston Southern. That was then followed by an unlined 97-47 win over Lees-McRae in their home opener. The Cougars then picked up a second consecutive unlined home win over Florida-Christian 96-42.
In their lined opener at NC-Greensboro, the Cougars scored a 58-72 loss as 2-point chalks. That as then followed by an unlined 85-63 home win over North Florida. The Cougars at this state were 3-2 straight up and 0-1 against the board making for a tough read at the start.
Cranking cash
Charleston then resumed lined action on a regular basis starting with a 71-76 loss/cover at Virginia Commonwealth as 11-point dogs. That was then followed by a 90-73 neutral court win over Florida Atlantic as 7-point chalks. Next came a 63-78 loss at Louisville as 16-point bargain dogs and then an 81-77 win at NC Wilmington as 12.5-point dogs as the Cougars were cranking cash with four straight covers.
Brief dip
Charleston next scored a 77-53 home win over Longwood in an unlined game before returning to the board in a 72-67 win over Rider as 9.5-point overlays. That was then followed by a 75-86 home loss to Towson as 14.5-point overlays.
Charleston got back on track with a 66-53 home win over Furman as 7-point chalks and followed that up with a 68-71 loss at Georgia Southern as 6-point dogs.
The Cougars were unable to maintain traction, however, as they next failed to cover a 77-65 home win over the Citadel as 18-point overlays and then lost at home to Davidson 70-80 as 2-point dogs for a brief dip of 2-4 in six games against the board.
Back in black
Charleston next hit the road for a pair of Southern Conference games starting with a 66-58 win at Wofford in a pick’em affair. That was then followed by a 67-59 win at Western Carolina as 2-point dogs. The Cougars remained back in black with a 67-53 home win over Chattanooga as 8-point chalks followed by a 64-53 win and cover over Appalachian State as 9-point chalks for a fourth consecutive payoff.
Depleted value
The solid run caused Charleston to suffer from depleted value on the board, however, starting with a 69-76 loss at Elon University as 2-point chalks. After a 67-65 win at Furman as 3.5-point dogs, the Cougars next suffered a 79-91 loss to Georgia Southern as 4-point home overlays. The losing stopped temporarily with a 72-52 win at Citadel as 10.5 point chalks.
From that point on however, Charleston was struggle to get the cash as they next failed to cover an 83-75 home win over Georgia State as 10.5-point overlays. That was then followed by a 69-64 home win over Wofford as 7.5-point chalks for a fourth loss in six games against the board.
The regular season finale was a 63-65 loss/cover at Davidson as 8.5-point dogs. In the Southern Conference tournament, the Cougars lost to Chattanooga 63-65 as 6.5-point overlays to complete the season with five failures in eight games against the board and with a much quieter post season than in 2005.