Winthrop wins 2025-26's first game with late run over Queens

 

Guard Daylen Berry led Winthrop and all scorers with 23 points in Monday's win over Queens.  (Photo:  Winthrop Athletics)

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ROCK HILL, S.C. – It’s good to be 1-0. It’s even better to be 1-0 before anybody else takes the court.

Winthrop weathered a charge from its cross-border rival Monday morning, scoring the final eight points of the game to fend off Queens, 81-74, to kick off the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon.

“(That was) a really unbelievable way to start the college basketball season,” Winthrop coach Mark Prosser said after the game. “It was a really fun thing to be a part of. Knowing that there are so many months and days that build into the first game and so much pressure that’s put on that first one […] We have several more to come. I don’t think either one of our teams are the teams they’re going to be in two months, and I mean that in a good way.”

Winthrop (1-0) broke the seal on the season with an Isaiah Wilson layup 36 seconds into the game, taking a lead it would hold for the entire first half. The Eagles’ advantage was precarious for the first 10 minutes of the contest before Charleston Southern transfer Daylen Berry helped spark a run. Berry turned in eight of 13 points in a burst that swelled the Winthrop advantage to 11 in the span of three-and-a-half minutes. Queens (0-1) absorbed the blow and gradually whittled away the deficit, getting six straight points from Nasir Mann to snip it to five at the interval.

“I think an area of growth for us is confidence in the next action after the first action and our pace into it,” Queens coach Grant Leonard said. “(We need fo focus on) trusting the screens, the slips, and the reads that we make as we play conceptually. These guys will get better and better, as our teams always do, throughout the year at executing that kind of stuff.”

Queens continued its upward climb as the second half began. Avantae Parker and Gus Larson converted back-to-back buckets to slice the Winthrop margin to a point, though Winthrop held the Royals at arm’s length on its possessions. The Royals finally pulled level at 49 on a Carson Schwieger triple with 13:45 remaining, then took their first lead on a pair of Jordan Watford free throws.

The Queens lead grew as high as five points after a Schwieger and-one with 10:25 to play. Winthrop tore off a 7-2 burst in the next minute-plus to again pull the game level at 62, started again by a Berry jumper. The Royals again extended it to five on a pair of Mann layups and Chris Ashby free throws at the 7:17 mark.

Winthrop then answered any lingering questions that may have surrounded its program. The Eagles went on a 7-0 run in a nearly two-minute span, with Berry also keying that burst. Berry provided four of the seven points, again giving Winthrop a two-point lead. Queens responded with a triple from Berman that gave the Royals the lead at 72-71, then snatched back the lead on a pair of Berman free throws.

The Eagles then plunged the dagger. Winthrop ended the contest on an 8-0 run, including six of their 25 free throws on the day. The Eagles sent their fans home happy with the strong finish.

“To be able to come out and get the effort that we had […] Our last eight to ten minutes – especially at the defensive end of the floor – were really exemplary. That’s a tribute to these guys. (Queens) is a hard team to play. Our attention to detail down the stretch was very good.”

Leonard reflected on his team’s performance after the game.

“Obviously, we’re disappointed with the outcome of the game, but I was not disappointed with our players’ effort,” Leonard said. “I can take a lot of the hit on the end-of-game and the last three or four minutes of execution. Credit to Winthrop and their adjustments, as they were able to finish it.”

Mann turned in a double-double for the Royals, scoring 12 points and hauling in 10 caroms. Mann was one of five Royals to log double figures, with Berman pacing the squad with 19 points and five boards. Larson tallied 13, while Ashby and Parker contributed 10 apiece. The Royals shot 42.9 percent (27-for-63) on the day, with 20 percent of its threes (6-of-30) finding the net. Queens connected on 87.5 percent (14-of-16) of its free throws.

Berry proved to be a disruptor on both ends of the floor, knocking down six buckets and nine free throws to lead all scorers with 23. Tommy Kamarad booked 10 off the bench, hitting 4-of-5 tries in 10 minutes of play. Center Logan Duncomb, who has battled through injury through much of his college career at Indiana and Xavier, logged 12 points and eight boards in 21 minutes of play. Prosser expressed his confidence that Duncomb would have a big year, and hist first effort backed up his coach’s words.

“(The journey has been) long, hard, confusing, and rewarding now,” Duncomb said after the game. “It’s good to go out there and start a college basketball game, do well, and help our team win. I’ve been looking for that for a long time. It feels really good.”

The sides now get a break – and hopefully a little sleep – before their next outings. Queens opens its home slate at the Levine Center Wednesday night against Division III Lynchburg. Game time is set for 7:00 (Eastern), with streaming over ESPN+. Winthrop travels to Fairfax, Va., to take on George Mason Friday night. Tip time is slated for 7:00 Eastern, with ESPN+ also handling the coverage for that contest.

WINTHROP 81, QUEENS 74

QUEENS (0-1)

Parker 4-5 2-2 10, Mann 5-13 2-2 12, Jabriel 0-2 0-0 0, Ashby 3-12 2-2 10, Berman 6-16 4-6 19, Larson 6-7 1-113, Watford 1-3 2-2 4, Schwieger 2-4 1-1 6, Clark 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-63 14-16 74.

WINTHROP (1-0)

Duncomb 3-7 6-8 12, Wilson 1-2 3-4 5, Rozier 2-12 4-4 8, Berry 6-13 9-11 23, Clouet 3-9 0-0 9, Nnamoko 3-5 0-0 6, Hendawy 1-4 3-4 5, Meo 0-3 0-0 0, Kamarad 4-5 0-0 10, Boyogueno 1-2 0-0 3, Hamilton 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-62 25-31 81.

Halftime:  Winthrop 40-35. 3-Point goals:  Winthrop 8-25 (Rozier 0-5, Berry 2-7, Clouet 3-8, Hendawy 0-1, Meo 0-1, Kamarad 2-2, Boyogueno 1-1), Queens 6-30 (Mann 0-2, Jabriel 0-2, Ashby 2-11, Berman 3-12, Schwieger 1-2, Clark 0-1). Fouled out:  Larson (QUC).  Rebounds:  Queens 39 (Mann 10), Winthrop 39 (Duncomb 8). Total fouls:  Queens 27, Winthrop 18. Technicals:  NA.

Points off turnovers:  Winthrop 15, Queens 10.  Points in the paint:  Queens 38, Winthrop 30. Second-chance points:  Winthrop 20, Queens 15.  Fast-break points:  Winthrop 10, Queens 4.  Bench points:  Winthrop 24, Queens 23.