Eagles Win Key Game Over UNCA, 73-66

ASHEVILLE, NC--Winthrop won a key Big South Conference showdown at UNC Asheville as the Eagles defeated the Bulldogs 73-66 behind a 20-point, 13-rebound effort from Greg Lewis and three clutch 3-point second half field goals from Tywan Harris.

The victory pulled Winthrop into a half-game of the first place Bulldogs in the league with a 4-2 record and even the Eagles' overall mark at 9-9 while UNCA dropped to 5-2 and 8-12.

Marcus Stewart, who has been slowed all season by knee problems, had his first double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds while Harris scored 13, including 11 in the second half.

After dropping an overtime 66-63 conference game last Thursday to Charleston Southern when they let a 10-point lead disappear in the final minutes of regulation, the Eagles were up to the challenge against UNCA as Andre Smith led a comeback in the final minutes that saw the Bulldogs erase a 55-44 deficit by outscoring Winthrop 17-6 to tie the game at 61-61 with 2:43 left in the game.  Smith, who had missed the previous four games following knee surgery, scored a career-high 30 points in his return, but it wasn't enough as the Eagles hung on by converting 8 of 12 free throws in the final minute and a half to take the win.

Harris, who was 0-4 from behind the arc in the first half, connected on three of four in the second half, to help the Eagles hold off the Bulldogs. 

A key in the game was Winthrop's domination on the offensive boards.  The Eagles had 24 offensive rebounds and had a 49-26 advantage overall.