CCU

Men's Basketball Uses Balanced Scoring Attack to Defeat Winthrop 78-69

       

Men's Basketball Uses Balanced Scoring Attack to Defeat Winthrop 78-69

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CONWAY, S.C. – Behind a balanced scoring attack and redshirt junior Joseph Harris’ (Lejeune, N.C./Lejeune) ninth double-double of the season, the Coastal Carolina University men’s basketball team (9-11, 3-5 Big South) defeated in-state rival Winthrop (5-13, 4-5 Big South) 78-69 Jan. 24 in Conway, S.C. Coastal Carolina shot a season-high 59.5 percent from the floor and went 20-of-29 from the free-throw line.   Coastal Carolina and Winthrop traded the lead nine times in the first half. Winthrop took a four-point lead (13-9) on a Cameron Stanley layup at 13:27, but the Chants would answer with a 10-2 run capped by a three from senior Steven Sexton (Monticello, Ky./Wayne County) at 10:32. The Chanticleers would lead by as much as six on a Harris layup at 5:02, but Winthrop would go on a quick 7-0 run, capped by a Raymond Davis three at 2:27 for a 28-27 Eagle lead. Coastal led 34-30 on a jumper from junior Mario Edwards (Massillon, Ohio/Chipola J.C.) with 13 seconds left, but a layup at the buzzer by Reggie Middleton made the Chant lead a pair at the break.   Harris had 13 points and seven rebounds in the first half, while redshirt junior Logan Johnson (Knoxville, Tenn./South Doyle) had three assists. For Winthrop, Robinson had 10 points and three rebounds, while Middleton had four assists.   Coastal Carolina opened the second half on a 7-0 run, taking a 40-32 lead at 17:39 on a three from Sexton. Winthrop would cut the lead to four at 12:44 on a Robinson three, but that would be the closest the Eagles would get to take the lead. The Chants opened the lead to nine (48-39) at 11:14 on an Edwards layup and made it a double-digit advantage at 9:52 on a three from senior Mario Sisinni (Orlando, Fla./Dr. Phillips). Coastal Carolina hit four three-pointers in the second half, as Sisinni’s triple made it 62-48 with 7:14 left. Winthrop would cut the lead to six (68-62) on a three from Andre Jones with 4:19 left but good defense and free throws iced the win for Coastal Carolina, its second victory in a row.   Harris ended the game with 21 points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots. The blocks were important because it made Harris the seventh player in Big South history have at least 600 points, 100 steals and 100 blocks. Sisinni had 15 points and four assists, while Sexton had four three-pointers and 13 points. Edwards and Johnson rounded out the double-figure scoring with 11 apiece.   The Chanticleers went 25-of-42 from the floor for the season high in field-goal percentage. Winthrop shot 41.3 percent and 7-of-27 from three-point range. The Eagles outrebounded Coastal Carolina 31-29 and had eight steals.   Robinson and Jones had 22 and 21 points, respectively, for Winthrop. Robinson was 9-of-15 from the floor, while Jones had four three-pointers and three assists. Robinson made it a double-double with 10 rebounds.    Coastal Carolina continues the homestand Wednesday, Jan. 28 against Gardner-Webb. Game time is at 7 p.m., in Kimbel Arena. Winthrop is at UNC Asheville the same night at 7 p.m.