The South Carolina Upstate Spartans pushed the Winthrop Eagles to the limit, but in the end, it was Winthrop's dominance in the paint that was the difference, as they outscored the Spartans 34-24 in the paint, with Logan Duncomb leading the way with 24 points and 16 rebounds, including 10 points in the second half. The Eagles, who have been on a tear lately, averaging 85.6 points per game over their last 5, were held to a season-low 68 points, but it was enough to secure the win, thanks in part to their 42-31 rebounding advantage. The Spartans, on the other hand, have struggled to find consistency, averaging 75.4 points per game over their last 5, while allowing 81.4 points per game, and their 2-3 record over that stretch is a reflection of their up-and-down season, including a 75-82 loss to Longwood.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team able to gain a significant advantage, until the Eagles went on a 10-2 run midway through the second half, capped off by a Duncomb dunk, to take a 56-48 lead with 8:24 remaining. The Spartans would not go away, however, and a 12-4 run of their own, led by Carmelo Adkins' 7 points, cut the deficit to 60-58 with 3:45 left. But the Eagles would respond, with Kody Clouet hitting a clutch three-pointer with 2:15 remaining to push the lead back to 5, and the Spartans would not get closer than 4 points the rest of the way. The Eagles' win was their 5th in a row, and 20th of the season, and they have now outscored their opponents by an average of 9.6 points over their last 5 games, including an 84-71 win over UNC Asheville.
Winthrop's Logan Duncomb Records 24 Points and 16 Rebounds in Win Over South Carolina Upstate
Duncomb's performance was not just about the numbers, as he also hit several big shots, including a jumper with 1:45 remaining to push the lead to 66-61, and his 16 rebounds were a game-high, including 10 defensive rebounds. Clouet, who finished with 17 points and 9 rebounds, also hit several clutch shots, including the aforementioned three-pointer, and his 5 assists were a team-high. For the Spartans, Adkins' 21 points were a team-high, but he was just 7-18 from the field, and his 4 turnovers were a game-high. Karmani Gregory added 18 points, but the Spartans' bench was outscored 15-6 by the Eagles' bench, including 8 points from Kareem Rozier.
The Eagles' win was not a surprise, as they were predicted to win by 16.9 points, according to the CHD Scout, and while they did not cover that margin, they still won.
CHD Scout Report Card
CORRECTPredicted
Final
The reason for the discrepancy between the predicted and actual score was the Spartans' ability to limit the Eagles' offense, which has been one of the best in the country over the last 5 games, averaging 85.6 points per game. The Spartans' defense, which has been a weakness all season, allowing 81.4 points per game over their last 5, was able to hold the Eagles to just 68 points, including a season-low 30 points in the first half. The Eagles' 38 points in the second half were more in line with their season average, but it was still a relatively low-scoring game, with both teams combining for just 132 points, 24 below the predicted total of 156.
The win for the Eagles, who are now 20-8 on the season, is a significant one, as it keeps them in the hunt for a top seed in the conference tournament, and it also improves their quad 4 record to 5-5, with 4 of those wins coming in their last 5 games. The loss for the Spartans, who are now 11-17, is a tough one, as it drops them to 2-3 over their last 5 games, and it also hurts their chances of making a run in the conference tournament, with their quad 2 record now at 2-8. The Spartans have struggled on the road, with a 4-10 record, including a 75-82 loss to Longwood, and they must find a way to win away from home if they want to make a push for the postseason.
The win for the Eagles does not significantly change their tournament picture, as they were already considered a lock for the tournament, with a NET rank of 123, but it does help to solidify their position, and it also gives them a boost in the conference standings, where they are now in second place, just a game behind the leader. The loss for the Spartans, on the other hand, is a significant blow to their tournament hopes, as they were already considered a long shot, with a NET rank of 294, and this loss drops them to 11-17 on the season, with a quad 2 record of 2-8. The Spartans must win out and get some help from other teams in order to make a push for the postseason, and even then, it will be a long shot, with their next game against a tough opponent, who has won 5 of their last 7 games.
The Eagles' recent form has been impressive, with 5 wins in a row, including an 82-72 win over Presbyterian, and they have outscored their opponents by an average of 9.6 points over that stretch. The Spartans, on the other hand, have been up and down, with 2 wins and 3 losses over their last 5 games, and they have been outscored by an average of 6.0 points per game over that stretch, including a 70-95 loss to High Point. The Eagles' win over the Spartans is a significant one, as it gives them a season sweep of the series, and it also improves their record against quad 2 opponents to 5-5, with 4 of those wins coming in their last 5 games. The Spartans, on the other hand, must regroup and refocus, as they head into the final stretch of the season, with 4 games remaining, including 2 against quad 1 opponents.