ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Seniors Fletcher Magee and Cameron Jackson combined for 46 points and 10 rebounds as the No. 22 Wofford Terriers defeated fourth-seeded ETSU 81-72 on Sunday afternoon to advance to the Southern Conference championship Monday night.
With the win, Wofford ties the program record for wins in a season (28), improving to 28-4 overall and matching the 2014-15 team that went 28-7. The Terriers, who advance to their fifth SoCon Championship game, will face UNCG. The final will be broadcast on ESPN at 7 p.m.
"You're always going to get what you expect with them, Wofford head coach Mike Young said of ETSU. "Everything matters against them. They are not going to give an inch. They play the right way and they play hard so I love every minute of those games."
"That's the main goal when you come here is to win the league and go to the NCAA tournament," Magee said of advancing to the championship. "We've lost in the semifinals twice in a row, so to finally get to be on that stage, I'm really excited."
Magee totaled 26 points, going 10-of-14 from the field and 6-of-7 from 3-point range, while Jackson scored 20 points on 9-of-12 from the floor. As a team, the Terriers shot 59.3 percent from the floor and 55.6 percent from 3-point range, outrebounding the Bucs 36-33 and dishing out 15 assists.
"Both of these guys are special," Young said of Magee and Jackson. "To see Fletcher twist and turn and make those shots in the air, it has nothing to do with coaching, that's just good players making plays. Cameron Jackson can play anywhere in country. He's a special guy and a lot of fun to coach."
Jackson scored the initial bucket of the game, but the Bucs took control, holding the lead until the 11:36 mark when Magee fed Aluma down low who scored to put the Terriers up 15-14. The bigs delivered for Wofford, scoring the next eight points to make the lead 23-14 and force an ETSU timeout.
"I just try and go out there and do whatever I can to help the team win," Jackson said. "Coach drew up some plays for me to get the ball in good areas, and I took advantage of them today."
The Bucs responded, making the deficit just two before Magee knocked down his second 3-pointers of the game to give Wofford a five-point advantage with 3:04 to play in the half. Magee would extend the lead, hitting another trey and cutting through the lane in transition to make the score 37-30 at half.
"We drew up a couple big plays when they were making a run," Magee said. "I love taking those shots during those moments."
Nathan Hoover got on the board early in the second, knocking down a three to put Wofford up by nine. Moments later, Tray Hollowell found Chevez Goodwin for a slam that forced another Bucs timeout. Hoover and Jackson would push the lead to 10, but ETSU scored the next points to make the score 59-55.
With the Bucs threatening, Keve Aluma sparked an 8-3 run for Wofford, rising up to force a jump ball at the rim, setting up 3-pointers from Magee and Hoover on the ensuing possessions, making it 70-58 in favor of the Terriers. With ETSU looking to cut into the lead, Magee knocked down his sixth 3-pointer of the game to make the lead double figures once again. Storm Murphy would step up and knock down three free throws, as Wofford closed out the Bucs 81-72.
"We're not going to anything different. We know we are going to play someone really good tomorrow," Young said of advancing to the championship. "We'll come back over here tomorrow and we'll tell our guys to play and just have fun."
