Winthrop basketball sets records, looks like old self in Big South quarterfinal win
When Winthrop hit a dry spell and lost three of four games, it turned to the two seniors in the program and asked them to step outside their comfort zone. It seems they may have found a new comfort zone.
Hunter Hale and Josh Ferguson combined for 38 points and 15 boards, pacing a dominant Eagle performance in a 106-70 victory over seventh-seeded USC Upstate in the quarterfinals of the Big South Tournament, in which Winthrop threatened or set a number of school and league records.
“We played really well tonight. (Hale and Ferguson) led the way — not only in today’s game, but they’re two extraordinary leaders for our program,” Winthrop coach Pat Kelsey said postgame. “I think it’s probably the most vocal they’ve been — maybe throughout their career here in the last week, week and a half, when we hit a little bit of a tough stretch a couple weeks ago.”
Second-seeded Winthrop (22-10) seized early control of the contest, refusing to cede it to the Spartans. The Eagles built an advantage that reached double digits on two Hale free throws halfway through the first half. The margin gradually swelled to as many as 19 before Winthrop took a 54-37 lead to the interval. Winthrop’s hot shooting in the period earned it a spot in the record books, as its 10 first-half threes tied a quarterfinal record.
“They brought the energy before the game. In warm-ups, they were yelling, screaming, jumping around, and fist-pumping,” said Upstate guard Tommy Bruner of the Eagles. “They started the game with that mentality, instead of having to bring the mentality in the first half or second half.”
“Their 3-balls were going in at a high rate. We should have done better on contesting their threes,” added Upstate center Nevin Zink. “They’re just an aggressive team. They played really physical, attacking the rebounds. They’re strong in all aspects of the game.”
The sizzling effort from the deck stretched into the second half. Upstate (13-20) hit three of its first four shots to start the period, but Winthrop countered by connecting on 5-of-7 (4-of-5 from three). Dave Dickerson requested a Spartan stoppage just over three minutes into the period, as the Eagle advantage stretched to 23.
The stoppage did little to cool the Eagles’ shooting effort. Winthrop shook off a run by Upstate that reduced the separation to 17, increasing its lead to 30 within a five-minute span.
“They took advantage of a team that played at 7:00 on Tuesday (a 69-59, first-round victory over High Point),” stated Upstate coach Dave Dickerson. “We were on fumes. To ask 12 freshmen and sophomores to come back from that situation is asking a lot. Give (Winthrop) credit.”
Notable: Charles Falden
The Eagles also flashed a renewed defensive intensity throughout the game that helped the club play at its preferred tempo. Winthrop compelled 16 Upstate turnovers that it converted into 22 points, while enjoying a 47-25 advantage on the glass.
“Coach gave us a real good gameplan just to reset in practice. We really competed, so we kind of got our mojo back, (and) got our feel back on defense,” Ferguson said. “Our activity level was just through the roof.”
“We had to guard a lot of ball screens. (We were) just being really active and very handsy,” Hale added. “We just had to fix a lot. We just keep running around helping each other out. A lot of talk (on defense).”
Kelsey also noted reserve guard Charles Falden’s effort. While Falden turned in 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting, his on-ball defense earned him plaudits.
“(His contribution) was huge,” said Kelsey of Falden. “He has always been able to score the ball at an elite level. He would tell you if he was sitting here today (that) his shortcoming that he needed to work on and get better at is his defense. (On) just the eye test, it might have been his best defensive game in a Winthrop uniform.”
Hale topped the Eagle offensive effort with 21 points on 6-for-11 from the floor. Ferguson added a double-double, equaling Falden’s 17 and hauling in 10 caroms. Micheal Anumba contributed 13 to the Eagles’ cause.
Winthrop’s 16 three-pointers were an Eagle tournament record, while its 106 points equaled a single-game best in a Big South quarterfinal. The Eagles shot 73.1 percent in the second half and 60.3 percent for the contest.
Bruner led three Spartans in double digits, tallying 19 from the field. Zink and Everette Hammond added 12 apiece.
Winthrop advances to the semifinals, where it’ll play No. 3 Gardner-Webb. That game is slated for a 6 p.m. tipoff inside the Dedmon Center Friday evening.