Feb 7th Conference Play Previews
Recapping the biggest moments of Feb 4th and previewing Feb 7th Conference Play
After much chaos, we almost have our top two seeds locked up as both teams currently tied for 1st have a 3 game lead on the 3rd place Radford Highlanders.
Now we move to the first Saturday in 3 weeks where all 4 games are actually being played on Saturday and none of them have been moved around.
Feb 4th Recap:
UNC Asheville beats USC Upstate 76-67
UNC Asheville Notables:
Kameron Taylor led UNC Asheville in scoring 21 points, along with tying for the lead in assists with 5. Taylor has lead Asheville in 7 of 10 conference games.
Toyaz Solomon had 15 points and 11 rebounds, along with that same team high 5 assists. This is Solomon’s 6th double double of the season.
Justin Wright with 13 points and DJ Patrick with 12 points also finished with double figures.
USC Upstate Notables:
Karmani Gregory led USC Upstate with 22 points, Carmelo Adkins joined Gregory in double digits with 12 points.
USC Upstate won the turnover battle 12-9.
Isaiah Skinner had 9 points which is his most in a conference game this season.
Winthrop beats Radford 80-78
Winthrop Notables:
Logan Duncomb led the Eagles with 18 points and 12 rebounds, but most importantly scored on his own putback to give Winthrop the eventual win.
Kody Clouet with 17 points, Kareem Rozier with 13 points, and Joshua Meo with 11 points joined Duncomb in double figures.
With this win, along with other results, Winthrop clinched AT LEAST the 7th seed in the Big South Tournament.
Radford Notables:
Del Jones led the Highlanders with 21 points, Dennis Parker joined him with 20 points.
Radford had a buzzer beater waived off at the end of the first half, this one being clearly late on the clock.
Longwood beats Gardner Webb 86-66
Longwood Notables:
Johan Nziemi had a career high 20 points, which lead the Lancers in scoring.
Elijah Tucker with 16 points, Jacoi Hutchinson with 15 points and Emanuel Richards with 12 points joined Nziemi in double figures.
Longwood with 11 steals to only 11 turnovers.
Gardner Webb Notables:
Freshman Jamias Ferere led Gardner Webb with 16 points, a new career high.
Colin Hawkins with 11 points, DJ Jefferson with 11 points and Jacob Hogarth with 10 points joined Ferere in double figures.
21 losses ties the 2nd most in Gardner Webb’s history in D1 (24 in 2003 is the most)
High Point beats Charleston Southern 80-55
High Point Notables:
Rob Martin led the Panthers with 22 points, but more notably 8 steals which is the 2nd most in High Point Program History.
Owen Aquino with 18 points, Conrad Martinez with 13 points and Braden Hausen with 12 points joined Rob Martin in double figures.
High Point forced 29 turnovers, the 3rd most in program history.
High Point clinched AT LEAST the 6th seed in the Big South tournament.
Charleston Southern Notables:
Jesse Hafemeister led Charleston Southern with 21 points, Brycen Blaine joined him in double figures with 18 points.
Outside of those 2 in double figures, Charleston Southern had 16 points.
Charleston Southern was missing A’lahn Sumler in this contest.
Feb 6th Previews:
Longwood at Winthrop - 2pm EST
Preview: In week one, one of the biggest noticeable results was Longwood beating Winthrop in Farmville. Now we get that rematch, this time in Rock Hill, SC. One more big thing changed between those two games, travel. Last time Winthrop was coming off a trip from Texas Tech compared to Longwood facing a Non D1, while Coach Prosser didn’t blame the “lag” it was obviously a factor. Without that factor, and being at home for this one, I think Winthrop pulls this one and gets revenge on Longwood.
Score Prediction: Winthrop 87 - Longwood 73
Gardner Webb at Presbyterian - 2pm EST
Preview: Before NIL, these teams would be in opposite places in the standings with GWU trending near the top and PC being the bottom feeder. GWU is now the bottom with PC being middle of the road. I do not like this spot for GWU, momentum seems to be gone once again and now they travel to play a WELL RESTED and HUNGRY Presbyterian team, I am taking the Blue Hose.
Score Prediction: Presbyterian 81 - Gardner Webb 68
Charleston Southern at USC Upstate - 2pm EST
Preview: This game went to overtime in the Buc Dome, now we go to the even smaller GB Hodge Center where CSU hopes to end their 7 game losing skid. Both of these teams entered conference play in their best position in years and now seems like this could be the game that decides the other team in the 8-9 game in Johnson City. I still believe both of these teams can turn it around but I think I’ve seen more from CSU to believe it will happen. Despite that, I think Upstate takes this game with their home court advantage.
Score Prediction: USC Upstate 77 - Charleston Southern 71
Radford at High Point - 7pm EST
Preview: Probably the most exciting game of the Saturday slate, and luckily, it’s the nightcap. The game in Radford, had Radford taking an early hold but eventually High Point winning by 10, that game, after Kody Clouet beat Radford at the buzzer. Now Radford after once again losing to Winthrop at the buzzer plays High Point. I think this game has a similar result, I think Radford might get out early but once again fall to a 2nd half High Point spurt.
Score Prediction: High Point 87 - Radford 80