Game Recap
SIU-Edwardsville: 27 46 – 73
Winthrop: 42 51 – 93
Redshirt freshman DJ Burns Jr. leads the way
Getting the start today vs. SIU-Edwardsville, it seemed that the coaching staff wanted to make him a focal point on the offensive end and Burns took advantage of it. Playing only 22 minutes in the win, Burns racked up 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting. The young big man was incredibly nimble and active around the rim, displaying his power but also incredibly active and light feet. Whether he was back to the basket or mid-range jumper, Burns was feeling it vs. SIU-Edwardsville.
As he said at the presser, Burns enjoyed playing with the physicality down low. As he said, “if I can feel you, I can get around you” and that is exactly what he showed.
Keep an eye on this young group for Winthrop
It will be quite interesting to see how this young group of players develop into their roles and their game down the road but against SIU-Edwardsville, they certainly shined in the win. Without freshman Russell Jones Jr. (who is out due to injury), players like Chase Claxton and Jamal King stepped up big. Claxton scored 6 points and 5 rebounds, but he was incredibly active using his athleticism and attacking the rim offensively. King found his rhythm from outside, going 3-for-5 from three for 9 points and 4 rebounds. That doesn’t even include the play of Burns, which we spoke about above. But these core group of freshmen played significant minutes and should be a bright spot for the coming years at Winthrop.
Senior Josh Ferguson showing his versatility
Leading the team in scoring this year at 13.5 points per game, there is no surprise with his performance but if you haven’t seen the 6’8 senior forward, you may be surprised with his versatility. Well, he showed it today, scoring 12 points and going 4-for-8 from three as well as grabbing five rebounds and two assists. Ferguson’s ability to play inside and out is highly intriguing, as he leads the team in 3’s attempted and made so far this season. He plays with great energy and a motor, as well as a physicality to battle down in the paint. But his confident stroke from the perimeter was fun to watch.
Winthrop found their rhythm vs. SIU-Edwardsville
It was a good day on the offensive end for the Eagles, as they finished the evening off shooting 30-for-59 from the floor (50.8%), going 15-for-29 from three, and 18-for-22 from the free-throw line. With a blend of inside/out play today, it was a tough day for SIU-Edwardsville to slow them down. The Eagles were aggressive in attacking the rim when the opportunity was there, as well as finding open spots. For Coach Kelsey, it was a good day to see the ball go through the net especially from three, after the Eagles have shot 31.8 percent from the arc this season.
Others Stats:
Points in the paint: SIU-Edwardsville 26 – Winthrop 22
2nd chance points: SIU-Edwardsville 1 – Winthrop 17
Fast-break points: SIU-Edwardsville 7 – Winthrop 0
Bench points: SIU-Edwardsville 35 – Winthrop 28
Player Stats:
Winthrop:
DJ Burns Jr: 19 points/ Josh Ferguson: 12 points, 5 rebounds/ Chandler Vaudrin: 13 points, 6 rebounds/ Hunter Hale: 12 points/ Jamal King: 9 points/ Chase Claxton: 6 points/ Kyle Zunic: 9 points, 6 assists
SIU-Edwardsville:
Zeke Moore: 15 points, 4 rebounds/ Tyresse Williford: 12 points, 6 assists/ Cam Williams: 15 points