Jan 17th Conference Play Previews
Breaking down the action of Jan 14th and previewing the action on Jan 17th.
We began last week with Two undefeated teams, then we went down to One, and now we have.
NONE.
And right now, we have a tie atop the Big South standings with both Winthrop and High Point at 4-1 but Radford is not far behind at 3-1. Will someone get sole possession of 1st place? Or will be enter next week with a tie atop the standings again?
Jan 14th Recap:
Winthrop beats High Point 92-75
Recap: This game went about how everyone expected, for about 4 minutes of action. High Point began the scoring before a little back and forth gave Winthrop the lead at 5-4, a lead they would maintain for the rest of the game. Winthrop would extend that lead to 8 until before High Point cut the lead to 3 with a 3 pointer from Scotty Washington and a dunk from Terry Anderson. Then Winthrop gave, what really seemed to be the fatal blow, being a 15-2 run over a 3 minute stretch extending Winthrop lead to 16 points. That 16 point lead would then balloon over the next 9 minutes to 24 points entering halftime.
At the start of the 2nd half, it seemed like shades of Johnson City as High Point sparked off a 10-0 run but unlike in Johnson City, their comeback was thwarted as Winthrop continued to really just protect their lead and not thwart their own chances by playing aggressive. Winthrop would never let their lead fall below 14 points in the 2nd half as they cruised to their biggest resume win of the season and entering a tie for 1st place in the Big South.
Winthrop Takeaways:
106 Words: On October 3rd, 2023 Logan Duncomb stepped away from basketball with a 106 word statement. Now in March of 2026, he could very well hear 6 words. Big South All Conference 1st Team, and potentially a bigger 6 words.
D2 Shootas: Tommy Kamarad and Kody Clouet, both former D2 stars, both ended the game in double figures. Kamarad with 17 points and Clouet with 14.
Turnover Battle: Winthrop becomes one of the few team to beat Winthrop in the turnover battle, even having more steals that the Panthers in this one.
High Point Takeaways:
Cam’ron Fletcher: The spotlight, at least off the court is turned toward Cam’ron Fletcher after Rico Bosco posted that he was “dismissed”. This was stated to be false by the program
Stumble but Don’t Fall: Realistically, High Point was going to lose in conference play. It was just a matter of when, now you got to get back up and push forward.
Feb 21st: Not to look ahead at the schedule, but the home game vs Winthrop on Feb 21st now is a MUST WATCH game. (and sadly won’t be a Wild Card game.)
USC Upstate beats Charleston Southern 86-81 (OT)
Recap: Both teams entered this game needing and win and both teams played like it. Charleston Southern began the scoring but Upstate took the lead back, which would become a common sight in the game with 2 baskets on back to back trips down the floor. The lead swapped numerous times throughout the first half with neither team holding more than 6 point advantage, which was the exact lead CSU took into halftime 41-35.
At the start of the 2nd half, CSU finally got their lead to 8 points, the largest of the game at the time. Then, just like clockwork USC Upstate storms back and take their largest lead of the game thus far being 4 points around the midway point of the 2nd half. Then it seemed as if CSU was finally going to put Upstate away being up 8 with less than 4 minutes to go, but Upstate wasn’t done just yet despite their 3.4% chance to win as they storm back and tie the game with just over minute to go as they held CSU scoreless for the last 3:41 of regulation but neither team hits their last shots and we headed to Overtime.
In overtime, Reis Jones began the scoring with a dunk on the first possession and then Jaquias Franklin forced a turnover leading to free throws, but CSU could only convert 1 of 2 allowing Upstate to stay within one possession. After a bit of back and forth, Learic Davis hit the biggest shot of the game giving Upstate a 2 point lead after his 3 went through the bottom of the next. After an Upstate miss, down 3, Brycen Blaine takes a transition 3 which goes off the rim and CSU has to wait over 5 seconds to foul, Karmani Gregory then ices the game at the line giving Upstate that 86-81 win.
USC Upstate Takeaways:
3.4%: 3.4% was the chances given to USC Upstate when down 8 with 3:41 left in the 2nd half. That is the lowest chance to win in ANY Big South game this season resulting in a win and 67th (6-7) in the nation.
Do-It-All Davis: Learic Davis had a new career high of 22 points along with 8 rebound and 2 steals.
Chuck Town Lovin: Marty Richter is now 2-0 in the Buc Dome, coming off his win 79-69 last season in the same venue.
Charleston Southern Takeaways:
The Masked PG: Luke Williams gets banged up and couldn’t return against Upstate. While Franklin played very good minutes, Williams absence was felt, definitely something to watch entering PC on 1/21.
Rebounding: One thing Coach Nimley hammered home in his post game presser, REBOUNDING. Mainly offensive rebounding, their next game? Against the #2 Offensive Rebounding team in the Big South.
Sumler is BACK: If there was any DOUBT that Sumler was truly him again, 35 points 5 assists and ZERO TURNOVERS. Only the 3rd such game this season.
Presbyterian beat UNC Asheville 71-70
Recap: One of the more under appreciated games of Wednesday was between the red hot UNC Asheville team playing at Presbyterian. The game began with a little bit of back and forth before Presbyterian took a 12-7 lead, then Asheville took their final lead of the game going up 22-19. After Asheville took that lead, Presbyterian had a 9-0 run to take the lead back and hold for the rest of the 1st half. After a Justin Wright buzzer beater, Presbyterian carried a 6 point lead into halftime.
The 2nd half began like the 1st half ended with Presbyterian holding onto a single digit lead until Presbyterian broke through that glass ceiling extending their lead to 13 with 10 minutes left in the game. Asheville would cut that lead down to single digits but once again with 5 minutes to go, the lead was 13 points. With 2 minutes to go, it seems that Presbyterian would coast their second victory with a 12 point victory but UNC Asheville didn’t give up cutting that lead down to 2 with just under 1 minute to go, but they would miss their buzzer beater 3 to tie it and only tip it back in for 2 and after two missed free throws by Presbyterian and a tipped around rebound, Presbyterian escapes 71-70.
Presbyterian Takeaways:
Triple P: The trio of Carl Parrish, Jonah Pierce and Jaylen Peterson scored 63 of Presbyterian’s 71 points.
Perfection Parrish: Carl Parrish went 5-5 from behind the arc, and was the only PC player to make a 3 in the contest.
Block Party: Both Pierce and Peterson had 3 blocks, along with Iverson King with 1.
UNC Asheville Takeaways:
Bench Issues: Once again, the bench just has NOT shown up for Asheville, only scoring 4 points for the Bulldogs.
Wright, Right on Time: Justin Wright had his best game of conference play so far with 26 points, leading UNC Asheville in scoring.
KT: Kameron Taylor with his 5th straight 20+ point game, all coming in conference play.
Radford beats Gardner Webb 89-80
Recap: Likely the game that Gardner Webb was pointing at as a very good chance to win was this one. Rest advantage and a Radford team that is as streaky as a C List Actor, put Gardner Webb in a good spot to win. Early in the game, it seemed like they would as Gardner Webb jumped out to 20-8 lead but within 5 minutes, that changed as Radford took their first lead 27-25 with 8 minutes to go. Then at the end of the half after a Del Jones buzzer beater layup, Radford entered halftime up 45-31.
The 2nd half started out much like the 1st half ended with Radford nursing their lead and even extending to a high of 16 until Gardner Webb came storming back. Gardner Webb cut the lead to 10, then to 6 with just over 10 minutes to go. Radford then once again stretched their lead to 11 but Gardner Webb didn’t go away cutting the lead to 5 with just over 5 minutes to go. Then the killshot came after Dennis Parker Jr was fouled on a 3 which he made allowing Radford to extend the lead to 9, a lead they would hold onto winning 89-80.
Radford Takeaways:
Del and Dennis: Once again the ACC transfers were the star of the show, Del Jones leading Radford with 27 points and Dennis Parker with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Thinner Bench: Something I’ve noticed, Radford has been playing less players and it’s working as Radford is 3-1 in conference.
Double Double: Along with Dennis Parker, Tyson Brown also had a double double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Gardner Webb Takeaways:
The Corner: It seems like Gardner Webb is turning the corner, they have been playing some of their best basketball while missing a few big pieces, once those comeback, GWU could be interesting.
Turn it up: DJ Jefferson led the Runnin Bulldogs with 21 points, his 2nd straight 20 point game and the first two of his career.
Injuries: 4 out of 5 Day 1 Starters missed this game, will be interesting to see how GWU plays when they comeback.
Jan 17th Previews:
Winthrop at UNC Asheville - 2pm EST
Preview: We go from Winthrop’s White Out, to Asheville’s Black Out as Winthrop now travels to Asheville to face UNC Asheville. A game that Asheville in my opinion NEEDS to win and a game Winthrop would very much LOVE to win. This game is simply coming down to does Asheville get production from their bench and can Winthrop control their emotions and not let people down. Based off the history of the season, I lean No and Yes, there for I lean Winthrop to get a massive road win.
Score Prediction: Winthrop 82 - UNC Asheville 74
Presbyterian at Gardner Webb - 2pm EST
Recap: According to Jeff Goodman’s anonymous rankings, this is a game between the two worst Big South jobs but don’t tell either coach that. Both of these teams are playing some of their best basketball of the season, really making this one a game to watch. This game will likely come down to Gardner Webb hitting their 3’s and Presbyterian playing bully ball down low. I do lean Presbyterian to win this one simply because they seem to be playing their best ball as well.
Score Prediction: Presbyterian 75 - Gardner Webb 71
Longwood at Radford - 2:30pm EST
Recap: A good ole VA throw down with a diaper dash during halftime, and two first year coaches facing off. This game will be one won at the free throw line, both teams get to the line at massive rates and both teams send team to the line at massive rates. The issue is, one team hits 76% at the line, one hits 72.2%, and the one that hits 76% is better at both getting to the line and limiting teams getting there. For that reason, and because I am still not sure what to make of Radford, give me Longwood.
Score Prediction: Longwood 79 - Radford 73
USC Upstate at High Point - 7pm EST
Recap: The night cap, and it’s a TRUE weekend night cap with this one tipping off at 7pm. USC Upstate enters coming high off their overtime win over Charleston Southern and High Point enters at a low point after their loss to Winthrop. Both teams are in need of this one, and realistically it will come to the turnover battle. HPU and USC Upstate provide insane pressure on PG’s and whichever teams PG group doesn’t crack likely wins this one. I do think Upstate performs really well but falls in the end has High Point gets back on track with a win.
Score Prediction: High Point 91 - USC Upstate 80