Charleston Southern ends Winthrop's title hopes, 78-75

Feb 24, 2018, 10:11 pm

ROCK HILL, S.C. -- Phlandrous Fleming Jr. scored 26 points and Christian Keeling 22 as Charleston Southern beat Winthrop 78-75 on Saturday to erase the Eagles' Big South title hopes.

Winthrop (18-11, 12-6) came into the regular-season finale a game back of UNC Asheville, where the Eagles lost on Thursday, but fell behind by 19 points with nine minutes remaining. The Buccaneers made 10 of 12 free throws in the final 41 seconds to hold off the Eagles.

Xavier Cooks caught an inbounds pass at the center of the 3-point arc with 1.2 seconds left but his turnaround 3-point try missed.

Keeling became the fifth Big South sophomore to reach 1,000 career points. Cortez Mitchell added 10.

Adam Pickett scored 20 points, Josh Ferguson 15, Kyle Zunic 12 and Cooks 10 with 13 rebounds.

Charleston Southern (14-15, 9-9) had not won in Winthrop Coliseum since Jan. 24, 2002, a string of 16 losses.