Throwback Thursday: The Legendary 1998-99 CofC Men’s Basketball Season

The 98-99 Cougs were undefeated at home and won the SoCon Tournament

The 1998-99 College of Charleston men’s basketball season was one for the history books. Under the legendary leadership of Coach John Kresse, the Cougars made an immediate statement in their first year in the Southern Conference, dominating league play with a perfect conference record and a 19-game conference winning streak.

One of the defining moments of the season was a stunning 66-64 overtime victory over then-undefeated North Carolina on December 5, 1998. The Cougars also took down George Mason, Delaware, and UMass, proving they could compete with—and beat—top programs.

Led by a veteran squad featuring eight seniors, the team played with grit, discipline, and an unbreakable will to win. They put together an incredible 25-game winning streak, routinely sold out John Kresse Arena, and even cracked the Top 25 national rankings.

While their Cinderella run ended in a heartbreaking first-round NCAA Tournament loss to Tulsa, this team set the standard for excellence at CofC and remains one of the greatest in program history.

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