Box Score Game Box (pdf)
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – With a strong defensive performance, the Wofford men’s basketball team earned a 59-50 win over UNCG on Saturday night at Benjamin Johnson Arena. The Terriers held the Spartan’s top scoring offense in the Southern Conference to their lowest point total of the season and only 32.1% shooting for the victory.
Wofford moves to 10-15 on the season and 4-8 in the Southern Conference. UNCG is 7-16 overall and 5-7 in the SoCon. The Terriers were led by Spencer Collins with 20 points and Karl Cochran had his first double-double of his career with 16 points and 12 rebounds. The Spartans were led by Trevis Simpson with 16 points and eight rebounds.
“We needed a great team defensive performance and we needed to guard,” said head coach Mike Young. “Karl Cochran was dandy on the best scorer in the league in Trevis Simpson. I told our team if we could keep him to 12-16 points, we could win the game. That was a bit of wishful thinking, but proved correct. We rebounded well and we will take it. It was not a pretty game to watch, but where we are right now everything is a grind. We defend and rebound night in and night out and that gives us a shot.”
The Spartans opened the game with a three pointer and they had a 5-2 lead after five minutes of action. After Wofford cut the score to 9-6 after a basket by Spencer Collins, the Spartans hit a three pointer for a 12-6 lead at the 10:17 mark. Spencer Collins added a three and Karl Cochran hit a long two as the Spartans led 13-11 with 8:18 left in the first half.
Wofford pushed the run to 8-1 and took a 14-13 lead on a lay-up by Aerris Smith. The Spartans answered with a three, but the Terriers tied the game at 16 on a shot by Karl Cochran with 5:14 remaining in the half. C.J. Neumann made a lay-up and free throw at the 3:42 mark for a 19-16 lead for the Terriers. After taking a 21-18 lead on a shot by Jarell Byrd, Trevis Simpson hit a three to tie the contest at 21. The Spartans scored the final bucket of the half for a 23-21 lead at the break.
Spencer Collins tied the game at 23 to open the second half and Wofford took a 26-25 lead on a three pointer by Karl Cochran. After trading baskets, the Spartans regained the lead at 29-28 with 16:58 on the clock. Wofford used a basket and free throw by Indiana Faithfull for a 31-29 lead at the 14:17 mark. A three pointer by Karl Cochran pushed the Terrier advantage to 36-31 two minutes later.
UNCG scored the next four points to cut the lead to 36-35 before a jumper by Spencer Collins gave Wofford a 38-35 lead with 9:10 remaining in the second half. After the Spartans tied the game at 38, the Terriers regained the lead after a lay-up and free throw by Spencer Collins for a 45-40 lead with 5:48 on the clock. After taking a 49-40 lead, the Spartans chipped away and the advantage was 51-46 with 2:54 left. Spencer Collins hit two free throws with 53 seconds on the clock for a 53-46 lead, but a bucket by UNCG cut the lead to 53-48 nine seconds later. The score was 55-50 when Wofford was able to hit four-of-six free throw attempts in the final 30 seconds for the 59-50 win.
Wofford shot 38.2% from the floor while UNCG shot 32.1% overall. The Terriers were 3-of-12 from with three, while the Spartans were 4-of-20 from behind the arc. UNCG was 10-of-17 from the line while Wofford was 14-of-19 on free throws. The Terriers had a 40 to 38 lead on the glass. John Swinton missed the game due to injury. Lee Skinner fouled out for Wofford with 31 seconds left in the game.
Wofford will play the next two games on the road, visiting Western Carolina on Monday night at 7:00 p.m. and Samford on Thursday night at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Terriers return home on Saturday night when they host Chattanooga.
