Rock Hill, S.C. – Winthrop will close out 2022 with its Big South Conference home opener as it welcomes UNC Asheville to the Winthrop Coliseum Saturday afternoon.
WINTHROP (5-9, 0-1 Big South)
| WINTHROP PROBABLE STARTERS |
| Pos. |
No. |
Name |
Ht. |
Yr. |
PPG |
RPG |
APG |
SPG |
Noteworthy |
| G |
0 |
Sin'Cere McMahon |
6-1 |
Jr. |
13.6 |
2.1 |
2.5 |
0.7 |
Career-high 24 points at Mercer and has four 20-point games this season / Career-high 6 assists at LSU / 9th in the Big South in scoring / 89 career threes |
| G |
11 |
Kasen Harrison |
6-2 |
Jr.. |
9.5 |
2.7 |
3.0 |
1.4 |
In double-figures the last 5 games / Scored season-high 17 points at Furman / T-6th in Big South in assists per game (3.0) |
| G/F |
12 |
Cory Hightower |
6-7 |
R-Sr. |
14.0 |
5.1 |
3.0 |
0.6 |
Scored season-high 25 points at LSU / Knocked down career-high 7 triples at LSU / In double-figures 8 straight games / Preseason All-Big South 1st Team / 1,527 career points, 752 career rebounds |
| F |
33 |
Chase Claxton |
6-7 |
Sr. |
5.4 |
4.5 |
1.0 |
1.5 |
Returned to lineup at Upstate / Played in 98 career games / Leads team with 16 steals and 18 blocks / Tied for 3rd in Big South with 1.6 blocks per game |
| F |
4 |
Kelton Talford |
6-7 |
Jr. |
17.3 |
7.8 |
0.5 |
0.7* |
Scored 23 points in the loss at LSU / Career-high 28 points vs. S.C. State / Named to Cancun Challenge Mayan Division All-Tournament Team / Big South Player of the Week (Dec. 12) / career-high 14 rebounds at Auburn |
* (blocks per game)
GAME PROMOTION
Saturday's game is "Community Appreciation Day" as the Eagles are showing their appreciation to the surrounding community by offering half price tickets ($6) for all general admission tickets. Ticket price is available online or in person the day of the game (doors open 60 minutes before Tip-off)
SERIES HISTORY
Series Record: 47-37
Series Streak: W2
Record at Winthrop Coliseum: 29-12
Streak at Winthrop Coliseum: W1
Prosser vs. UNC Asheville: 5-1
THE MATCHUP
- Eagles and Bulldogs are one of the longest running rivals in the Big South Conference
- This marks the 85th meeting all-time as Winthrop leads the series 47-37 and has won six of the last seven meetings
- This will be the sixth time in the last seven meetings the Eagles and Bulldogs square off at the Winthrop Coliseum
- The last four meetings have been decided by six or fewer points
WINTHROP
- Looking to end a four-game losing streak after opening league play with a loss at USC Upstate
- Have won the last five league home openers and seven of the last eight
- Overall the Eagles hold a 24-14 record in conference home openers
- Lead the Big South and rank 47th nationally in free throw percentage (.751)
- Kelton Talford leads the team in scoring (17.3) and rebounding (7.8)
- Talford is 1-of-3 Eagles scoring in double-figures as Cory Hightower is second with 14.0 ppg and Sin'Cere McMahon is averaging 13.6 ppg
- Talford is 3rd in the league in scoring, Hightower 9th, McMahon is 10th
- Talford leads the Big South in field goal percentage and 3rd in the nation (.729)
- He also ranks among the top rebounders in the league, ranking 2nd with 7.8 per game
- McMahon is 2nd in the Big South in free throw percentage (.878) and 5th in threes per game (2.4)
- Toneari Lane ranks second in the conference for three-point field goal percentage at .419 and 4th in three-point field goals with 2.5 per game
- Coming off a 23-9 campaign that saw the team reach the Big South Title game for a third straight season before falling to Longwood
- Have won 23 or more games in three straight seasons
- Return five players that saw action in 2021-22, two that sat out and welcome eight newcomers
- Voted to finish second in the Big South Conference preseason poll
- Finished the 2021-22 season ranked 14th in bench scoring (28.6 ppg)
- Cory Hightower was voted to the preseason All-Big South First Team
- Hightower is the top returning scorer at 11.8 ppg and led the team with 5.5 rpg last season
- Kelton Talford is the second-leading scorer returning at 8.5 ppg and was second on the team in rebounding at 4.8
- In the last four seasons the Eagles are a combined 75-28 (.728)
- Winthrop has more wins than any other Big South school (208) since the 2012-13 season
- Mark Prosser starts his second season as head coach of the Eagles, the 7th head coach in program history
- Led the team to 23 wins, the most by a first-year head coach in program history
- Prosser tied Towson State's Terry Traux (1992-93) for the most conference wins by a first-year coach with 14
BIG SOUTH WEEKLY HONORS
- Kelton Talford – Big South Player of the Week (Dec. 12)
- Averaged 23.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.0 apg and 1.0 spg in two games
- He posted a career-high 28 points in the win over S.C. State and then scored a team-high 19 points at Furman
- For the two games he shot 77 percent from the floor
TUNE IN TO THE EAGLES
Fans can listen to the games all season long on OTS Media of Rock Hill (94.3 FM), which is the flagship station for Winthrop Athletics. In addition, most games will simulcast on 730 ESPN Charlotte and AM 1450 WGNC Gastonia.
All home games as well as all Big South games home or away are available to watch through the Big South Network on ESPN+. To watch live Big South games on ESPN+, you need a subscriber. For more information how to subscribe,
click here.
UP NEXT
Winthrop remains at home as it will host Presbyterian College on Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m.
To keep up with the latest news on the Winthrop men's basketball program, follow the Eagles on Twitter (@Winthrop_MBB), Instagram (@Winthrop_MBB) and Facebook (/WinthropEagles).
