The Winthrop Eagles (18-7) and the Big South’s top-ranked offense welcome the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (16-9) and the ninth-ranked defense in the conference. Action begins at 7:00 pm ET on Thursday, Feb. 18.
The Eagles enter this game hoping for similar success after barely hanging on to beat Radford 86-84 in their last matchup. Keon Johnson was the game’s leading scorer with 32 points on 10-for-19 shooting. The Chanticleers, meanwhile, are coming off a 78-71 win against Gardner-Webb in their last game. Shivaughn Wiggins was the game’s top scorer, accounting for 30 points on 11-for-13 shooting.
Xavier Cooks and Johnson have been better than usual over the last five games for the Eagles. During that stretch, Cooks has averaged 16.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.8 blocks, and 1.2 three-pointers, while Johnson has recorded 23.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.2 steals, and 3.6 three-pointers a game. Wiggins has upped his play for the Chanticleers. In the same five-game span, he is averaging 18.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.4 three-pointers.
This is the second game of the season between these two teams, with the Chanticleers winning the first matchup 82-63. Despite the loss, Jimmy Gavin had a standout performance with 19 points, two rebounds, two assists, one steal, and three three-pointers.
Notes
The Winthrop Eagles rank 26th for their offensive rating of 114.4. The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers have a defensive rating of 98.4 (ranked 69th).
The Winthrop Eagles average 72.8 possessions and 1.144 points per possession in games this season. The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers average fewer possessions with 68.3, as well as fewer points per possession with 1.104.
The Winthrop Eagles have one of the best effective field goal percentages this season, ranking 11th in the country with an eFG% of 56.1%. When their opponents record a similar or higher eFG%, the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers are winless with a 0-4 record.
Winthrop, the 27th-ranked team in blocked shots, records an average of 5.2 per game. Coastal Carolina does worse, ranked 187th with 3.3.
Winthrop ranks 308th in offensive rebounds, while Coastal Carolina ranks 26th in defensive rebounds.
On average, Winthrop forces a turnover rate of 17.3%. When Coastal Carolina turns over the ball at a similar or higher rate, the team has a winning 10-6 record.
