Inside the Numbers: Presbyterian at Winthrop

You’ve read the recap. Now, let’s go inside the numbers of Winthrop’s grinder of a victory over Presbyterian.

• This is not fully numbers-oriented, but Cory Hightower’s absence in the second half for Presbyterian is too significant to ignore. Hightower left the game with a concussion following a collision with teammate Chris Martin, and that had a couple of somewhat significant impacts.

First, the absence meant more minutes for C.J. Melton, Ben Drake, and Owen McCormack. Melton provided 22 strong minutes off the pine for the Blue Hose, scoring six points and snatching nine boards. Drake and McCormack combined for 12 points and six rebounds. Without Hightower, however, the Hose were outrebounded, 34-29 (14-10 offensively), and Winthrop tried 17 free throws in the second 20, hitting 15. Winthrop coach Pat Kelsey played down the significance of Hightower’s absence as it came to that last number, but it bears mention.

• The Blue Hose got reasonably balanced output in Saturday’s game — I mentioned in the gamer that every PC player who touched the deck scored at least two points — but could have benefitted from an additional high-number scoring threat aside from Chris Martin. Hightower could have provided a significant benefit there, too, as he is not only a post presence, but a solid passer from the post.
• One number that was incredibly significant for the Eagles — and slipped my recognition at the time — illustrates just how effective Winthrop was offensively in the second half. Following a first half in which the Eagles scored just .711 points per possession and scored on just 37 percent of their 38 trips — while turning it over 32 percent of the time — Winthrop scored 1.324 points per trip in the second stanza. Kelsey’s crew scored on 56 percent of its 34 trips, while turning it over just 21 percent. The cherry on the top of this numeric sundae:  Winthrop went without a field goal for the final 6:08 of the contest.
• The game represented a homecoming of sorts for Presbyterian guard Zeb Graham. Graham prepped at nearby Nation Ford High School, about 15 minutes northeast in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Graham, who was the Player of the Year in South Carolina as a prep star, tallied five points on 2-for-5 shooting.
• Finally — and this is somewhat numbers-related — Winthrop creative content and production coordination Lauren Lowitt unearthed an interesting story about Eagle forward Micheal Anumba. She noted that there was some writing on his shoes, and asked him for the story behind it. I’ll just share his answer, as he gave it. Really compelling stuff.

Also, the Hustle Stats:

• Points in the paint:  Winthrop 26, Presbyterian 20
  • Winthrop was ahead, 16-6, in this category after a half
• Points off turnovers:  Winthrop 32, Presbyterian 19
  • Winthrop compelled PC to commit 26 turnovers; Winthrop coughed it up 19 times
• Second-chance points:  Winthrop 18, Presbyterian 4
  • Kelsey noted after the game his team’s 14 offensive rebounds, which allowed for this significant margin; the Blue Hose hauled in 10
• Fast-break points:  Presbyterian 6, Winthrop 3
• Bench points:  Presbyterian 32, Winthrop 21
  • It’s not a regular thing for Winthrop to be outpaced off the pine — this is the same team that was outscoring Hampton 51-3 in bench points at one point in a game a couple of weeks ago — but leading scorer Chris Martin’s 13 helped to guide this number

WINTHROP 72, PRESBYTERIAN 57

PRESBYTERIAN (8-13, 5-3 BIG SOUTH): Hightower 0-1 2-2 2, McCormack 2-4 0-1 5, Graham 2-5 0-0 5, Jenkins 3-5 0-0 8, Isler 2-5 1-3 5, Martin 5-9 3-3 13, Shubert 1-6 1-2 3, Melton 1-2 4-5 6, Drake 1-3 5-6 7, Younger 1-6 0-0 3. Totals 18-45 16-22 57.

WINTHROP (14-7, 8-0): Ferguson 1-8 1-2 4, Burns 3-8 4-4 10, Anumba 3-6 4-5 11, Hale 6-11 4-4 19, Vaudrin 2-3 3-4 7, Jones 2-8 1-3 6, Pupavac 0-1 0-0 0, Falden 1-3 0-0 2, King 0-0 0-0 0, Zunic 1-2 3-3 6, Claxton 3-3 1-2 7, Hunter 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-53 21-27 72.

Halftime — Winthrop 27-24. 3-Point Goals—Winthrop 7-24 (Ferguson 1-7, Anumba 1-2, Hale 3-6, jones 1-4, Pupavac 0-1, Falden 0-2, Zunic 1-2), Presbyterian 5-19 (Hightower 0-1, McCormack 1-2, Graham 1-3, Jenkins 2-3, Shubert 0-5, Melton 0-1, Younger 1-4). Fouled Out —Isler (PC). Rebounds — Winthrop 34 (Ferguson 8), Presbyterian 29 (Melton 9). Assists —Winthrop 10 (Vaudrin 4), Presbyterian 8 (Graham 3). Total Fouls — Presbyterian 26, Winthrop 20. Technical — NA. A —3011.

Current Big South Standings