JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — In an impressive display at Saturday’s Big South Conference Tournament semifinal, third-seeded Winthrop secured an 86-67 victory over second-seeded UNC Asheville. This win propelled Winthrop (23-10) into the championship game, where they will take on top-seeded High Point (28-5) on Sunday.
Nick Johnson was a standout performer, notching up 15 points as he went 5 for 9 from the field, including a remarkable 5 for 6 from beyond the arc. Contributing to Winthrop’s solid offense and defense, Kelton Talford recorded a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Kasen Harrison also made a significant impact with his 14 points and brightened the playmaking with nine assists.
On the UNC Asheville side, Toyaz Solomon managed to score 15 points while grabbing eight rebounds, but it was not enough to halt the Eagles. Kameron Taylor fulfilled his role effectively by adding 14 points, six rebounds, and two blocks, with Josh Banks chipping in 10 points alongside seven rebounds.
Winthrop displayed dominance early in the game as they captured the lead with 11:35 remaining in the first half and maintained control throughout. They led 46-30 by halftime, with Johnson contributing 12 points to guide the team. Paul Jones III also aided the Eagles’ success by delivering 10 of his 13 points in the game’s latter half.
