SPARTANBURG, SC—Winthrop overcame a nine-point second half deficit to hold on for a 79-78 victory over USC Upstate, Tuesday evening at the Hodge Center.

The victory pushes the Eagles to 4-o on the year as their off to their best start since the 2005-06 season. The Spartans fall to 0-5 on the year. The Eagles put their unbeaten record on the line Friday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. when they travel to Raleigh, NC to take on North Carolina State.

Keon Johnson and Jimmy Gavin combined for 54 points to help lead the Eagles to victory in their first road contest of the season. Johnson scored a career-high 32 points as he was 7-for-12 from the field, 4-for-7 behind the arc and 14-for-16 at the foul line. Gavin finished the game with 22 points as he was 9-for-11 from the free throw line.

Johnson gave the Eagles a five-point lead with 23 seconds left as he drove all the way to the basket and scored. After a couple of missed shots, the Spartans kept the ball alive and Marvin Smith drained a three with four seconds remaining to cut the deficit to 77-75. Gavin was fouled and stepped up to knock down two free throws for a four point advantage, sealing the game. USC Upstate's Josh Cuthbertson hit a three at the buzzer to make it a one-point game.

Trailing by nine points with 14:20 to play in the game, the Eagles outscored the Spartans 22-7 over the next five minutes for a 57-51 lead after Johnson capped off the run with a three. Gavin provided a spark during the run with 10 consecutive points.

The Eagles trailed by four at the break, 33-29 as they were just 1-for-13 behind the arc and shot 33 percent from the field. Upstate shot 41 percent from the floor in the first half and used a 13-6 run over the final seven minutes for the lead at the break.

Winthrop finished the game 25-for-31 from the foul line and shot 41 percent (50 percent in the second half). Upstate shot 40 percent for the game and was 19-for-27 at the line.

Cuthbertson and Deion Holmes led the Spartans with 20 points apiece as they combined to go 7-for-10 from three. Marvin Smith had 14 points while Jacob Schulte added 13.

Gavin and Johnson were the only Eagles in double-figures but Duby Okeke hauled in a career-high 10 rebounds and tied his career-best of five blocks