Strong Second Half Powers Elon Past Winthrop 71-64

ELON, NC--Ross Sims scored 13 of his 16 points in the second half to lead Elon to a 71-64 Big South Conference victory over Winthrop Monday night. 

Playing with a torn ACL in his right knee, Sims connected on four three-pointers in the contest and gave his team a four-point lead in the final minute with a driving layup and two free throws to give the Phoenix a 66-62 advantage.

Winthrop, which committed a season-high 24 turnovers, led 35-30 at halftime thanks to 62 percent field goal shooting, but the Eagles cooled off in the second half connecting on just 6 of 21 shots from the floor and finished the game shooting 47 percent.  Elon, meanwhile shot 50 percent for the game after connecting on 56 percent (14-25) in the second half.

Tyrone Walker led three Eagles in double figures as he had 15 while Greg Lewis scored 13 and Pierre Wooten added 12.  Brendon Rowell led all scorers in the game with 21 for Elon while Gary Marsh added 10.

Winthrop won the rebound battle 30-25 as Lewis pulled down seven to tie Elon's Shamar Johnson for game honors.