UNC Asheville Bulldogs vs Winthrop Eagles
Winthrop reaches title game, 80-79 over Asheville
CONWAY, S.C. -- Keon Johnson scored the last five points as fourth-seeded Winthrop continues its giant-killer run through the Big South tournament, knocking off No. 2 seed UNC Asheville 80-79 in a semifinal Saturday. The Eagles ousted top-seeded High Point with a last-second shot Friday.
The Eagles (20-12) advance to Sunday's championship for the first time since 2010, facing Coastal Carolina (19-12).
Johnson finished with 16 points and hit a pair of jumpers with less than 2 minutes to play. Both scores came after Asheville misses. Larry Brown grabbed a board leading to a Johnson jumper that propelled the Eagles into the lead, 78-77. Next time down the floor, Joab Jerome rebounded an Asheville miss and again Johnson struck at the other end for an 80-77 edge.
Twenty of Winthrop's 26 rebounds were off the defensive glass.
The Bulldogs (17-15) missed a driving layup and a putback in the final 10 seconds.
Game Information
Conway, SC
Referee:Jerry Heater
Referee:Justin Porterfield
Referee:Anthony Franklin
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 |




