Three key takeaways from Winthrop's win over Toccoa Falls

 

Winthrop Coliseum following Friday's contest.  (Photo by Brian Wilmer/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Winthrop got in its final tuneup for Big South play Friday afternoon, throttling Toccoa Falls, 113-62, before an announced crowd of 1,362 at Winthrop Coliseum. The battle of predatory birds saw the non-Screaming variety of the Eagles crack the 100-point barrier for the first time since November 23, 2022, against Eastern Michigan.

Here are three key observations from that contest:

No stars, no problem:  Winthrop played the contest without forward Kelton Talford and guard Kasen Harrison to help manage their workloads, and it never mattered. The Eagles recorded an almost-laughable 64 paint points even without Talford’s post moves and dished 24 dimes on 43 conversions. The home side also procured 59 rebounds, creating a lot of one-shot offensive trips for the already-challenged Screaming Eagles.

      Diallo down low:  Redshirt freshman forward Yoro Diallo showed Friday the flashes of what Winthrop coach Mark Prosser and his staff have known he could do since he arrived on campus. Diallo notched his first career double-double, tallying career-highs in points (14) and boards (12). The Cincinnati native also played 23 minutes, which could prove quite handy with Big South play beginning Wednesday.

“I just go out there and try to play my role,” Diallo said after the game. “I don’t know if it’s going to be two minutes one night, or 10 (another). I just go out there and try to play hard and play for my teammates, because I know they’re going to play hard for me. I’m just going to work and do what I can to help the team.”

Return of the Mike:  Grad student Micheal Anumba took the floor for the Eagles for the first time in a season and a half following a serious foot injury. Anumba’s numbers were fine – 2-for-6 from the deck, 1-for-5 from three, 2-for-2 from the line – but the key sign was that he did not seem limited in his 15 minutes of play. He moved well, defended well, and even took a charge just as he did before his injury.

“It felt great to get another chance to compete with my teammates and to play after so long,” Anumba said. “I was a little bit nervous, but I definitely felt really good and very excited.”

Notable stats

Points off turnovers:  Winthrop 22, Toccoa Falls 10.  Points in the paint:  Winthrop 64, Toccoa Falls 14.  Second-chance points:  Winthrop 19, Toccoa Falls 9.  Fast-break points:  Winthrop 24, Toccoa Falls 7.  Bench points:  Winthrop 57, Toccoa Falls 15.

Big South schedule for Wednesday, January 3 (all times Eastern and streaming on ESPN+, unless otherwise noted)

USC Upstate at Asheville, 6

Longwood at Winthrop, 6:30

Presbyterian at Charleston Southern, 7

High Point at Radford, 7

Gardner-Webb, OFF

Big South standings

Longwood 12-2

High Point 10-4

Radford 10-5

Winthrop 9-6

UNC Asheville 8-7

Presbyterian 7-7

Gardner-Webb 5-9

USC Upstate 4-8

Charleston Southern 4-9