Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs @ Winthrop Eagles
Winthrop tops Gardner-Webb 80-77 in OT in Big South semi
ROCK HILL, S.C. -- Keon Johnson hit five 3-pointers and scored 31 points, Xavier Cooks grabbed 15 rebounds and scored 23 points, including a go-ahead free throw in overtime, and top-seeded Winthrop beat No. 4 seed Gardner-Webb 80-77 in a Big South Tournament semifinal Friday night.
Winthrop (25-6) will face seventh-seeded Campbell (17-16) in Sunday's championship game.
Gardner-Webb's Tyrell Nelson tied it with a jumper then Liam O'Reilly made two free throws for a 74-72 Bulldogs lead with 1:05 left in OT. Johnson tied it with a layup and Cooks hit two free throws for a 76-74 Winthrop lead with 25 seconds to go.
Gardner-Webb missed two shots from the floor before Nelson made 1 of 2 free throws with nine seconds left. Johnson hit two from the line for a 78-75 Winthrop lead, but GW's Laquincy Rideau made a pair to close to 78-77 with three seconds left. Johnson iced it with two free throws and DJ Laster's 3 at the buzzer missed.
Rideau scored a career-high 30 points for the Bulldogs (19-14) and Jamaal Robateau had 14, including a 3 to tie it at 61 at the end of regulation.
Game Information
Rock Hill, SC
Referee:Tony Henderson
Referee:Ted Valentine
Referee:Michael Luckie
2025-26 Standings
| Big South ConferenceBig South Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Point | 15-1 | - | 31-5 |
| Winthrop | 13-3 | 2 | 23-11 |
| Radford | 9-7 | 6 | 16-16 |
| Longwood | 8-8 | 7 | 16-16 |
| UNC Asheville | 8-8 | 7 | 15-17 |
| Presbyterian | 7-9 | 8 | 15-18 |
| Charleston Southern | 6-10 | 9 | 15-17 |
| South Carolina Upstate | 5-11 | 10 | 13-19 |
| Gardner-Webb | 1-15 | 14 | 4-29 |
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