Middleton, Robinson help Winthrop hold off Liberty 80-72 and reach Big South semifinals
By APTuesday, March 2, 2010
Winthrop holds off Liberty 80-72 in Big South
ROCK HILL, S.C. — Reggie Middleton scored 26 points and Mantoris Robinson had a double-double as Winthrop held off Liberty 80-72 on Tuesday night in the quarterfinals of the Big South Conference tournament.
Middleton scored 11 straight points during a 13-4 run in the second half that gave the No. 3-seeded Eagles (17-13) a 71-61 lead with 4:10 to go.
The Flames (15-16), seeded sixth, pulled within 75-72 with 37 seconds left, then Winthrop hit 5 of 6 free throws to seal the win.
Robinson, who was voted the Big South’s Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season, had 13 points, 10 rebounds — all on the defensive end — and five assists for the Eagles.
Winthrop, which snapped a two-game skid, will face Radford, a 64-61 overtime winner over Charleston Southern, in the tournament semifinals on Thursday.
Jesse Sanders led Liberty with 25 points and Kyle Ohman added 22.
