2008 Woodie Awards
Eagles start conference season undefeated
Ricky Rogers
Issue date: 1/17/07 Section: Arts
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Sports Editor
The Winthrop men's basketball team finished their non-conference schedule with a 3-1 record in the last four contests and started their conference schedule with three straight victories.
Winthrop 74, Mt. St. Mary's 59
Winthrop came out strong in the first half against the Mountaineers and opened up a 19-4 lead 7:04 into the contest. Late in the first half, Mt. St. Mary's battled back to cut into the Eagle lead. Winthrop took a nine point lead into halftime.
The Eagles increased their lead to 18 points with 13:40 to play in the game. The Mountaineers again fought back to get the deficit back to eight with 4:06 remaining. However, the relentless Eagle defense allowed only one more basket and the Eagles defeated Mt. St. Mary's 74-59.
"This was a tough game," senior forward Phillip Williams said. "They came in here scrappy. They weren't going to lie down. To win by 15, we've got to be satisfied with that."
All five Eagle starters recorded double figure scoring, led by Williams with 17 points. Senior center Craig Bradshaw added 13, junior guards Chris Gaynor and Michael Jenkins tallied 10 and 11 respectively, and senior guard Torrell Martin scored 16.
Winthrop 69, East Carolina 50
Winthrop's last three non-conference games were on the road, starting with the East Carolina Buccaneers on Dec. 21.
The Eagles and Buccaneers battled back and forth in the early in the first half and East Carolina held a three point lead with 13:28 to play in the half. Winthrop then scored 11 straight points to take an eight point lead.
East Carolina fought back and got the lead down to one with 1:43 to play before the half. Following a jumper by Martin, the Eagles took a three point lead into the locker room.
The second half was entirely the Eagles as they outscored the Buccaneers 44-28 and defeated East Carolina 69-50.
Jenkins, Martin and Bradshaw each scored in double figures. Jenkins had 19, Martin had 15 and Bradshaw totaled 10 to pace the Eagle attack.
Winthrop 71, Old Dominion 65
The Eagles ran into a tough Old Dominion Monarchs team on Dec. 29 in Norfolk, Va.
Old Dominion went up early on the Eagles with a 9-3 lead, 3:41 into the game. Winthrop battled back to take a two point lead with 11:20 to play in the half.
The two teams battled back and forth, each taking a lead, and then giving it up before Winthrop took control with 4:48 to play in the first half. The Eagles led 33-29 at halftime.
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