Sizzling first half helps Winthrop men beat Hampton in basketball opener

With its Coliseum as full as it gets these days, Winthrop men’s basketball badly wanted to deliver an opening day win. The Eagles did, claiming an entertaining 102-95 victory against Hampton that coach Pat Kelsey hoped convinced some fans to come back.

“They make such an impact on our team, on the game, that I can’t even quantify it,” said Kelsey, thanking everybody that attended the game and produced an exciting college basketball atmosphere. “If you came today, tell your friends, tell your buddies, tell your neighbors, tell your aunt, tell somebody.”

Fifth-year senior Jimmy Gavin led five Winthrop double-digit scorers with 26 points, while freshman Bjorn Broman pitched in 18 points - and didn’t have a turnover - in his first college basketball game.

Those two were instrumental in Winthrop leading 60-49 after a devastating first half of offensive basketball. The Eagles might have been annoyed to not be ahead by more; they led by as much as 20 points with about 5 minutes left in the half after Josh Davenport stole the ball and went end-to-end, flipping the ball off the glass and in while drawing the foul. His free throw made it 52-32.

Winthrop’s 60 points were the most a Kelsey-coached team has scored in a first half, and missed the school record – set in 1996 against Johnson and Wales - by four points. The Eagles shot 64 percent from the field and 9-of-16 from 3-point range.

But Hampton clawed back into the contest before the intermission, thanks in very large part to Quinton Chievous and Lawrence Cooks, who combined to score 34 of the Pirates’ 49 first half points. Cooks’ 3 in transition with 24 seconds left got the visitors within 11 at the break.

Winthrop’s free-scoring first period felt too good to be true, and the early exchanges of the second half proved that the case. The Eagles hit just 1-of-12 shots in the first 8 minutes, fertilizing an 11-3 Hampton burst.

Kelsey’s club answered with a run of its own to quell the Pirates and fuel the crowd, abnormally large and boisterous because of Homecoming. It was an all-around pretty promising 2015-16 debut for Winthrop men’s basketball.

Turning point

Reginald Johnson’s blow-by for a lay-up 8 minutes into the second half cut Winthrop’s lead to 63-62. The home team needed an answer, and got it. Rod Perkins hit 1-of-2 free throws, with Cooks snatching the rebound on the second and hitting Gavin, who drove and scored, while drawing the foul. Cooks then dropped in a floater and Okeke blocked a shot off the backboard. Cooks grabbed that loose ball, pushed up floor and then found Perkins for a corner 3 that stretched the lead back out to eight points.

“Those guys regrouped, they responded, and extended the lead back out,” said Kelsey. “So I think that showed a lot of maturity on our team’s part.”

Critical

Hampton battered the Eagles on the glass, out-rebounding the hosts 52-33 and snaring 22 from the offensive glass. That led to a 28-5 second chance scoring advantage for the Pirates that kept them in the game.

But Winthrop’s 3-point shooting – 13-of-27 - kept the Pirates at bay, as did 36 free throw attempts, of which the Eagles hit 27.

Star contribution

What a Division I debut for Gavin, who scored 16 points in the first half on 6-of-6 shooting from the floor, including four 3-point attempts without a miss. He showed a sweet shooting stroke, but more importantly, ability to drive the ball, which should keep defenders honest. Gavin transferred from Division II Wisconsin-Parkside.

“I put a lot of work into my game and I always compete with no fear, so in terms of the divisions, I think it’s more of a façade. My goal, every time I step on the court, is to play at the highest level,” he said.

“He sure as heck doesn’t lack for confidence,” said Kelsey, grinning. “He pores over film, he cares deeply about his grading on defensive film, but he can score and he’s gonna get better as the year goes on.”

Xavier Cooks put in what Winthrop coaches will hope is an average performance this season, scoring 22 points, grabbing nine rebounds and blocking four shots. Cooks was a factor in every phase of the game for the Eagles.

Hampton would have been hopeless without Lawrence Cooks and Quinton Chievous. The pair combined for 51 of the Pirates’ 95 points. Chievous – with his size and aggression on the offensive boards - was a particularly tough matchup for Winthrop.

“He’s a man,” said Hampton coach Edward Joyner, Jr.

Overheard

“It was great. I wish every game was like that,” said Cooks, talking about the crowd. “It gives us a boost to play. Everyone came out there with more energy today.”

On deck

Winthrop is at home Tuesday, Nov. 17 against NAIA school Truett-McConnell. The Bears won just four games two seasons ago, but posted 17 victories last season.

This story was originally published November 14, 2015 at 7:23 PM with the headline "Sizzling first half helps Winthrop men beat Hampton in basketball opener."