Morgan scores 11 points as Winthrop pulls away in second half to beat Presbyterian 66-53

Morgan gets 11, Winthrop beats Presbyterian 66-53

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Matt Morgan scored 11 points and Reggie Middleton and Gideon Gamble scored 10 each as Winthrop defeated Presbyterian 66-53 on Saturday.

Eight of Gamble’s points came in the second half. After the Blue Hose (4-22, 2-12 Big South Conference) cut a 10-point deficit to four, 37-33, Gamble’s 3-pointer gave the Eagles (14-10, 10-4) a 40-33 lead with 12:00 left.

Presbyterian got within six, 42-36, with 10:08 left on a 3-pointer by Chase Holmes, but baskets by Chris Malcolm and Justin Burton widened Winthrop’s lead to 46-36 at the 8:31 mark.

The Eagles got twice as many free throw chances, going 19-for-24 — including 14-for-17 in the second half — while the Blue Hose were 10-for-12. Presbyterian turned the ball over 17 times to Winthrop’s eight.

Holmes led the Blue Hose with 13 points, while Ryan Hargrave had 11 and Khalid Mutakabbir 10.