Eagles Achieve Remarkable Rally To Defeat Radford In Triple Overtime
In a Triple Overtime thriller, the Winthrop University Eagles managed to maintain their undefeated record in Big South Conference play by overcoming the Radford Highlanders. The exceptional matchup, held at Winthrop Coliseum in Rock Hill, South Carolina, concluded with a balanced performance from the Eagles, yielding a final score of 92-88.
Strong Start by Radford
The game began with a strong performance from Radford, leading 9-0 just three and a half minutes into the first half. The Highlanders extended their lead to 13-2 at the 15:27 mark; however, the Eagles gradually started to claw their way back. By the end of the first half, Radford led by a solitary point with 31-30 on the scoreboard.
Back-and-Forth Second Half Battle
The second half saw the momentum shift with Winthrop taking their first lead of the game. The score kept swinging back and forth from thereon, with both teams battling fiercely, leading to 12 lead changes in regulation time. With a clutch three-pointer by Radford’s Chandler Turner, the game was forced into its first overtime with both teams tied at 67 points each.
Triple Overtime
Three overtimes were required to finally settle the game, as both teams refused to back down. The third overtime period hung in balance at 84-84 before Winthrop pulled ahead for the final time. The Eagles collectively outscored Radford 6-2 to finally seal the victory.
Key Contributors
Standout performances from the Eagles were led by Kelton Talford with 27 points, followed closely by Nick Johnson with 20 points. For Radford, Chandler Turner matched Talford’s performance with 27 points while Kenyon Giles and Daquan Smith scored 20 and 18 points respectively.
Noteworthy Takeaways
This victory marked the fifth straight win for the Eagles and the hard-fought triple overtime game was just the third in the program’s history. Additionally, it was also Winthrop’s eighth straight home win. This match witnessed a total of 19 lead changes and was tied 17 times.
Upcoming Schedule
Following this victory, Eagles will be hosting UNC Asheville on January 18, strengthening their hopes of enhancing their undefeated status in the Big South Conference. Winthrop’s enthusiasts and fans are anticipating yet another thrilling encounter.
