Jan 14th Conference Play Previews
Recapping Jan 10th's game and giving a preview of Jan 14th action
Well, now there is ONE undefeated team left in Big South play, and shockingly…. it’s High Point.
but now High Point enters one of their toughest test of the season having to make the trip to Rock Hill and face Winthrop, for their white out.
That and MANY more getting previewed, but first let’s recap last Saturday’s action.
Jan 10th Recap:
Winthrop beats USC Upstate 71-50
Recap: It took a bit for either team to get the lid off the basket, but finally after 2 mins of no scoring, USC Upstate began the game with a 3-0 lead. That 3-0 lead would be their only lead of the game as after 4 minutes Winthrop began their scoring which was also the start of a 12-0 Winthrop run taking the lead of which they would hold for the rest of the game. Upstate stopped that 12-0 run with 2 free throws, just for Winthrop to then spark another 8-0 run taking a 20-5 lead over just 10 minutes of action. Winthrop just kept piling onto their lead including sparking a 16-0 run between the end of the first half and start of the 2nd half as Winthrop entered halftime doubling Upstate’s total 38-19.
As I said above Winthrop started a 16-0 run that ended in the 2nd half, but by the time Upstate was able to end that run, it was already 46-19 with only 17 minutes remaining. After a bit of back and forth between Winthrop and Upstate including cutting the lead to under 20 multiple times. The lowest Upstate would close it up to was 15 with just under 4 minutes left in the 2nd half but eventually Upstate would ultimately fall to the hands of Winthrop 71-50.
Winthrop Takeaways:
Berry Returns: Daylen Berry returned from injury after missing last game, only put up 3 points but also had 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in 21 minutes.
Welcome Back Wilson: Not a true welcome back, but Isaiah Wilson finally seems to be finding his footing with two double digit point games, the first since his injuries that sidelined him for two seasons.
Duncomb Dominance: Despite only having 8 points, Logan Duncomb still made his impact felt with 13 rebounds, the most of all players.
USC Upstate Takeaways:
Bench Mob: 39 of USC Upstate’s 50 points come from the bench including Breylin Garcia with 16 points and Adkins with 14.
Rebounding: USC Upstate lost the rebounding battle 49-31 with their leading rebounder having only 6 and allowing 18 offensive rebounds for Winthrop.
Smith The Swipper: Tyler Smith with a game high 4 steals, his 4th game with 4 more steals and first since Tennessee Tech.
High Point beats Charleston Southern 84-82 (OT)
Recap: It might be early to crown a game as Game of the Year, but this definitely the front runner so far. Charleston Southern started out with a small 5-0 lead and held a similar advantage throughout most of the first half occasionally having cut to one but never being able to push the lead past 7. That small lead finally get cut to 0 with just over 5 minutes left in the 1st half when High Point took the lead 31-30 but that lead was short lived as CSU with 1:48 left, just to give it back on the next possession with a High Point score on the other end. High Point held onto a narrow 1 point, 41-40 lead headed into halftime.
The 2nd half started with CSU taking the lead and seemingly trying to put High Point away going up as much as 10 points with just 8 minutes of action left. Then High Point stormed back tying the game at 67 with just over 4 minutes left and then taking the lead again 68-67 after a late free throw with just over 3 minutes to go. After a bit of back and forth, it seemed like High Point would escape with a win in regulation as they were up 4 with 38 seconds left. Luke Williams had other ideas, with two big shots to take the game to overtime.
In the overtime period, High Point took the first lead at the free throw then Jacob Taylor hit a massive 3 to give Charleston Southern a 2 point lead, just for Conrad Martinez to hit an even bigger 3 on the next possession to give High Point the lead again. After a Terry Anderson layup and two Owen Aquino free throws, it seemed like High Point FINALLY put CSU away, but alas CSU got to the line and made 3 of 4 and stopped two High Point attempts to ice the game giving CSU a chance to end it, but A’lahn Sumler’s buzzer beater feel short and High Point escaped 84-82.
High Point Takeaways:
ConRAD: Conrad Martinez is slowly becoming an undernoticed Big South Player of the Year candidate, that’s might not indicate it but he is tied for most Game MVP’s for HPU on KenPom and is tied for highest Big South PRPG! on Torvik.
Double Digit No More: Entering this game, EVERY High Point win came by double figures, this was their first single digit win of the 25-26 season.
JC Rematch: If the league plays out how it seems, we might be in store for a rematch of this one in Johnson City.
Charleston Southern Takeaways:
Real Deal: Despite being 2-2 this team has proven they are FOR REAL, those two losses are against the Top 2 in the league and one was AT Winthrop.
Turnovers: CSU kept their turnovers to only 12, while also forcing 9 from High Point, a team that DOES NOT turn it over much.
Lead Management: This is about the 5th-6th where CSU has a late lead but allows the opponent to pull back in, that could be something to watch as the season rolls on.
UNC Asheville beats Radford 91-72
Recap: Despite this one being close at the start, UNC Asheville led this one wire to wire with only one tie. The scoring began with Asheville getting out to a 4-0 lead, with Asheville continuing to hold onto a slim margin until Radford tied it up at 10 early in the first half. Then once again Asheville took the lead, this time extending it to 8 before Radford proceeded to cut the lead to 2, the closest it would be for the remainder of the game. After some sluggish offense on both sides, UNC Asheville had a 45-36 advantage headed into halftime.
At the start of the 2nd half, Asheville came out sluggish allowing Radford to cut the lead to 5, before Asheville took it to 9 again, but once again having it cut to 5 by Radford. The one thing that has plagued Radford all season showed up once again, a shooting slump as UNC Asheville started a 20-5 run, basically putting the game away. Radford did charge a late game comeback but Dennis Parker Jr getting into foul trouble cut their comeback effort short by 8 points before Asheville closed out the game winning 91-72.
UNC Asheville Takeaways:
Kam (Taylor’s Version): Kam Taylor fell 2 points short of his career high but was the clear star for Asheville with 27 points along with 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
DJ Patrick Star: DJ Patrick once again with a big game, this time 24 points, a new season high.
Bench Bummer: This time, Mike Morrell put out his normal starting 5 and once again Asheville only saw 8 bench points.
Radford Takeaways:
3 from 3: Radford once again seems to entering a shooting slump as they went 3-26 from behind the arc.
Dennis, The Menace: Dennis Parker Jr, leads the Big South in scoring with 20.1 PPG, and is paving his path to a potential Big South POTY campaign.
Frederik The Freshman: Frederik Erichsen, despite not starting out great, had his first double digit game against a D1 team with 11 points.
Longwood beats Presbyterian 77-70
Recap: Both teams entered this one needing a win but obviously only one could leave with it. For the first 6 minutes, this one seemed like it would be a dog fight as both Longwood and Presbyterian swapped the lead until Longwood got their final lead of the game 9-8 at the 15 minute mark. Longwood would extend that lead to 23-17 before they put that lead to 15 after Longwood sparked off a 9-0 run. Presbyterian would close that lead to 12 points after a buzzer beater layup.
Despite being down 12, Presbyterian didn’t stop fighting sparking off a 6-0 run cutting Longwood’s lead to 9 points. Longwood then once again extended the lead to 14 points before Presbyterian once again cut the lead this time to 10 points with 8 minute remaining. Then link a rubber band effect in a video game, Longwood extended their lead to 16 before Presbyterian once again sparked off a run this time an 8-0 run cutting the lead to 8 but time just ran out as Presbyterian had to begin fouling allowing Longwood to put the game away and win 77-70.
Longwood Takeaways:
Double Trouble: Elijah Tucker got his 2nd double double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Hot Shot: Longwood got hot in this one shooting 47% from 3PT land, their best performance of the season.
Turnover Battle: Longwood won the turnover battle 13-10 including 10 steals 3 by VCU Transfer Alphonzo Billups.
Presbyterian Takeaways:
Peterson Breakout: Jaylen Peterson led the Blue Hose in scoring with 21 points, his 2nd 20 point game in the past 5.
King of the Bench: Iverson King led Presbyterian with 12 points off the bench, his highest total against a D1 school.
Turnovers: Presbyterian had 13 turnovers, 6 off their star big man Jonah Pierce.
Jan 14th Previews:
High Point at Winthrop - 6:30pm EST
Preview: The rematch of Johnson City is finally here, the stars might be different and so is one of the head coaches but this game should still be a good one. This game likely comes down to Logan Duncomb and his impact. Duncomb has been the clear star for the Eagles and if High Point is able to limit his production, something they managed to do well against Toyaz Solomon but that was WITH Cam’ron Fletcher who has missed time due to an “internal matter” and has a very unclear status for this game. With that being said, I do think High Point is able to weather the storm and take home another MASSIVE non conference win.
Score Prediction: High Point 91 - Winthrop 85
USC Upstate at Charleston Southern - 7pm EST
Preview: This game also has the likelihood to be a very fun one as both teams need a win, USC Upstate has started 0-3 after their best non conference start since joining the conference and Charleston Southern has lost two big games but can get right with a win at home. The key for this one is truly turnovers, if Tyler Smith and others for Upstate can force CSU to give up the ball they could be in for an upset. I do think CSU limits their turnovers like they did against High Point but I think Upstate stays in this one and even maybe takes a late lead but falls in the end.
Score Prediction: Charleston Southern 81 - USC Upstate 76
UNC Asheville at Presbyterian - 7pm EST
Preview: This game really just doesn’t stand out like other two in my opinion. Both teams in my opinion lack 1/2 pieces off being a top tier Big South contenders. The matchup in the paint will be interesting between Toyaz Solomon and the two headed monster of Peterson and Pierce. I also do think Carl Parrish and Justin Wright is another matchup worth watching. In the end, I do see these teams on similar tiers and I think Presbyterian being at home court is the deciding factor of this one.
Score Prediction: Presbyterian 67 - UNC Asheville 64
Radford at Gardner Webb - 7pm EST
Preview: I think this game will be interesting, I am still not 100% sold on what Radford is and isn’t. Radford started out conference play 2-0 then got their teeth kicked in by UNC Asheville with really only 4 players. Gardner Webb has not had a good season so far, but they come in with the rest advantage and home court. Really this game will come down to can Zach Chu coach this team to this win, and I’m not confident it happens. I think Gardner Webb shocks the Big South and gets a MASSIVE home win.
Score Prediction: Gardner Webb 72 - Radford 66