Rock Hill, S.C. – D.J. Burns Jr. and
Cory Hightower scored 17 points each to lead Winthrop to a 65-61 victory over Presbyterian College, Saturday afternoon at the Winthrop Coliseum.
WINTHROP (17-8, 10-2 Big South)
STAT LEADERS
PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE (11-16, 3-9 Big South)
STAT LEADERS
- Rayshon Harrison (19 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists)
- Winston Hill 18 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals)
- Trevon Reddish-Rhone (7 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block)
FIRST HALF
- Both teams were getting after it defensively from the opening tip as the game was tied 6-6 at the 13:55 mark when Trevon Reddish-Rhone knocked down a turnaround jumper
- Cory Hightower broke the tie with a three-point play but four straight points by the Blue Hose had them on top 10-9 with 11:16 left
- Eagles regained the lead on a three from the wing by Micheal Anumba only to have PC tie the game again at 12-12 with 8:57 left
- The teams traded buckets over the next few possessions and the game was tied again at 14-14
- Defense led to offense as Sin'Cere McMahon came up with a steal and pushed the ball ahead to Hightower for a strong finish at the rim that sparked a 6-0 spurt
- D.J. Burns Jr. buried a jumper from the wing followed by Drew Buggs slipping a pass to Chase Claxton for a dunk
- Blue Hose kept the game close, even pulling within a point with 2:27 left but the Eagles were able to take a 28-24 lead at the half
- Eagles shot 44 percent in the first half while holding PC to 39 percent
SECOND HALF
- Kelton Talford scored inside for a 35-30 lead with 15:53 to play when PC responded with a run
- The Blue Hose turned a five point deficit into a two point lead at 37-35 behind four points from Rayshon Harrison
- Hightower answered immediately as he drove to the basket and scored to tie the game
- Then after a defensive stop, Hightower slipped a pass to Burns Jr. cutting to the basket and he finished with the one-handed flush for a 39-37 lead
- A three from Harrison put the Blue Hose on top 42-41 and over the three and a half minutes held the lead except for 28 seconds when the game was tied
- Burns Jr. tied the game at 48-48 with 6:02 to play with a strong move inside and was fouled in the process
- Burns Jr. knocked down the free throw for the lead
- It was a one point game with 1:31 to play after Harrison scored off a drive, only to have Hightower come through again with a score at the rim for a 61-58 lead with 1:11 left
- Winthrop went up 63-58 with 43 seconds left after Anumba made two free throws, but PC answered with a three from Marquis Barnett from the wing to cut the deficit back to two points with 20 seconds left
- McMahon stood in with 14 seconds left and made both free throws to help the Eagles hold off the Blue Hose
- Eagles shot 59 percent from the floor and 10-for-13 from the line in the second half
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Winthrop finished the game shooting 51 percent from the floor, 20-for-29 from inside the arc
- PC was held to 41 percent shooting for the game and finished 5-for-23 from three
- Winthrop committed 17 turnovers that PC turned into 15 points while the Eagles managed eight points off 12 PC turnovers
- PC edged the Eagles on the boards 29-27 and had 11 offensive rebounds for a 14-4 advantage in second chance points
NOTABLES
- The win is the 14th straight at home for the Eagles and fourth straight overall
- Eagles are now 11-0 at home this season with two home contests remaining
- Mark Prosser becomes the second Winthrop coach to win 10 or more Big South games in his first season (other is Randy Peele)
- This was the 7th straight win over the Blue Hose and the 17th in the last 18 meetings
- Buggs moved within 25 points of 1,000 in his career (975)
UP NEXT
Winthrop is back on the road as it heads to Boiling Springs, N.C. on Wednesday, Feb. 16 for a 7 p.m. clash with Gardner-Webb.
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).
