HONOLULU — Ante Brzovic had an impressive performance, scoring 32 points as the Charleston Cougars secured a narrow victory against the Charlotte 49ers, winning 84-81 in the battle for fifth place at the Diamond Head Classic on Wednesday.

Brzovic didn’t just excel in scoring; he also grabbed 14 rebounds, contributing significantly to his team’s success, bringing Charleston’s record to 10-3 for the season. AJ Smith was another standout for the Cougars, shooting 6 of 9 overall, including 2 of 4 from beyond the arc, and finishing with 17 points after hitting 3 of 5 free throws. Deywilk Tavarez added to the offense with 15 points, although he struggled a bit with his shooting, making 4 of 14 tries, but did connect on 3 of 8 three-point efforts and went 4 for 5 from the free-throw line.

For the 49ers, Jaehshon Thomas was the top scorer, posting 23 points to go along with nine rebounds. Nik Graves supported the effort with 14 points and five assists, while Giancarlo Rosado contributed 12 points and secured nine boards, but Charlotte ultimately fell short in the contest.

In the second half, Brzovic played a crucial role, adding 13 points to cement Charleston’s win and help his team conclude the tournament on a positive note.