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Winthrop guard Sin'Cere McMahon led all Eagle scorers with 22 Tuesday night. (Photo: Brian Wilmer/House of College Hoops)
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Winthrop returned to its home deck Tuesday off a Mexico trip and without two of its key players. Guard Isaiah Wilson missed the game due to injury, and forward Kelton Talford was held out for precautionary reasons.
The home side rarely missed a beat.
Five Eagles finished the contest in double figures, as Winthrop ran away with a decisive, 99-52 result over visiting Toccoa Falls Tuesday evening.
“We won the game. College basketball is supposed to be fun,” Winthrop coach Mark Prosser said. “We’re gonna enjoy that.”
Winthrop (4-4) wrested control of the game from the opening tip and never relinquished it. The Eagles started the contest on a 13-0 run against their fellow birds of prey, putting five scorers in the book before Toccoa Falls requested a respite. Xavier McKelvy connected on a layup four minutes later to extend the Eagle lead to 20.
The lead grew to 30 three minutes later on a Toneari Lane layup, with McKelvy again putting home a transition layup to put the Eagles ahead by 40 five minutes later. All told, the Eagles went on a 30-4 run in the first half, keeping Toccoa Falls from breaking the 10-point mark until a Tyler Glover bucket with 2:29 to play in the period.
Toccoa Falls (3-3) got back-to-back buckets from Anthony Williams to start the second half. The Eagles quickly countered, however, stretching their lead to 50 on a corner triple from Cam Whiteside with 15:22 remaining. Williams drained two more to draw the Screamin’ Eagles back within 41 near the 11-minute mark. Winthrop heated up at the same time, though, keeping the lead in the mid-forties for much of the second period. The teams made 11-of-12 combined shots during a portion of the second half.
Winthrop guard Sin’Cere McMahon spoke after the game of the constant reminders he tries to offer players like McKelvy, who have been called upon to play much larger roles due to injury. The junior played a similar role at Western Carolina before transferring to Winthrop.
“Every day, I’m on them,” McMahon said. “I’ve been in their position, maybe not getting those minutes that know you want because you’ve gotta get ready and get used to the speed of the game. I just try to stay hard on them and let them know I’ve been in their position. They’ve just gotta keep working.”
McMahon finished two points off his career high, throwing in 22 on 9-of-15 shooting to pace all Eagle scorers. McKelvy tallied a career-high 15, while grabbing seven boards. Lane and Cory Hightower added 12 apiece, while Kasen Harrison added 11 for the Eagles, who shot 58 percent (40-for-69). Freshman forward Michael Moore also compiled a career-high eight while snaring 11 boards.
McMahon tallied his third 20-point outing in his club’s last six games. The Indianapolis native is averaging 20 per contest over the last four.
“Just believing in myself and staying in the gym,” McMahon said when asked what had prompted the fast start. “I think that’s just it.”
Williams and Glover both finished with 10 for the Screamin’ Eagles. Toccoa Falls significantly heated up in the second 20, knocking down 41.5 percent (17-for-41) of their tries against just 18.8 percent (6-for-32) in the opening stanza.
Winthrop returns to the deck Saturday afternoon against Palmetto State – and former Big South Conference – rival Coastal Carolina. Tip time is set for 2:00 inside the Winthrop Coliseum, with the game being streamed on ESPN+. Toccoa Falls travels to Florida to take on Trinity Friday evening. That game is set for 6:00.
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