Eagles Hold Off CSU For 57-55 Victory

Feb. 16, 2002

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC--For all but the final 10 seconds, Winthrop's rematch with Charleston Southern eerily resembled the 66-63 overtime victory for the Buccaneeers on Jan. 24 in Rock Hill, but this time the Eagles escaped the last second dagger and escaped with a 57-55 Big South Conference victory Saturday afternoon.

The win keeps Winthrop's hopes alive for a regular season conference title as the Eagles remain two games behind UNC Asheville with two games left next week against Coastal Carolina and the UNCA Bulldogs.  Winthrop is now 14-11 overall and 8-4 in the Big South while CSU drops to 10-15 and 6-6.

After riding the inside scoring of Greg Lewis and Josh Grant to a 34-27 halftime lead, the Eagles could never shake the pesky Bucs.  The Eagles escaped a last second tie or defeat when Gene Granger's jumper hit the front of the rim as the buzzer sounded.

Lewis led Winthrop in scoring and rebounding with 13 points and 10 boards.  It was hiks 15th double-double of the season which ranks third in the nation.  Grant had seven points, a career-high, and two blocked shots.