Eagles Defeat UNCA 77-62 To Claim Big South Co-Championship

Saturday, Feb. 23, 2002

Rock Hill, SC–Greg Lewis scored 23 points and pulled down 14 rebounds to lead the Winthrop Eagles to a 77-62 Homecoming victory over UNC Asheville Saturday night. The win gives Winthrop a share of the regular season Big South Conference title and the top seed in next week's Big South championship tournament.

Lewis connected on 9 of 12 field goals to lead the Eagles who shot 53 percent (28-53) for the game. The double-double was Lewis’ 17^th of the season, third best in the nation. Pierre Wooten also scored in double figures with 16 and capped a special night as he was crowned 2002 Homecoming King during halftime activities.

The win was Winthrop’s fourth straight and improves the Eagles to 10-4 in the Big South and 16-11 overall heading into next week’s championship tournament in Roanoke, VA. The Bulldogs closed the regular season with a 10-4 conference slate and a 13-14 overall mark.

The game was tied 28-28 at halftime as Lewis already had 10 points and eight rebounds. UNCA which had its leading scorer Andre Smith on the bench for the most of the first half with two fouls, got balanced scoring from Robby Joyner, Michael Harper and Alex Kragel to keep it tight.

Harper, Joyner and Smith finished the game with 10 points each to lead the Bulldogs.

Winthrop came out in the second half and outscored UNCA 21-12 in s 10 minute span to take a 51-39 lead. Wooten had 11 of Winthrop’s 21 during that stretch. The Eagles’ largest lead of the game was 73-51 with 2:03 left when Lewis converted two free throws.