CONWAY, S.C. — Coastal Carolina will look to extend its early-season momentum when it hosts in-state rival Winthrop on Tuesday night at the HTC Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
The Chanticleers (1-1) are coming off a record-breaking 121–44 win over Virginia University of Lynchburg in their home opener Friday night. Winthrop (1-1) opened the year with a victory over Queens before falling 96–90 at George Mason on Friday.
Tuesday's game marks the first of two meetings this season between the former Big South Conference rivals. Coastal will travel to Rock Hill for the return match-up on Dec. 6.
Coastal has dropped its last two games in the series, including a 96–89 loss on the road last season.
Rasheed Jones led the Chanticleers in that contest with 21 points, hitting four three-pointers while adding seven rebounds and four assists.
The Chanticleers exploded for 68 first-half points and built a 56-point halftime lead in Friday's win over Lynchburg, setting or tying several program records in the process. Coastal's 81 rebounds, 17 made three-pointers, and 41 three-point attempts all matched or broke school marks. The team's 121 points tied for the fourth-most in program history, while its 77-point margin of victory was the second-largest ever.
Six players scored in double figures for Coastal, led by
Jerry Ngopot's 19-point, 10-rebound double-double.
AJ Dancler (16 points, 10 rebounds) and
Tristan Thompson (14 points, 10 rebounds) also recorded double-doubles.
Under fifth-year head coach Mark Prosser, Winthrop features a roster with 10 newcomers and six returners. The Eagles finished 23–11 last season, tying for second in the Big South (11–5) before falling to High Point in the conference championship game. Thirteen players on the roster have previous Division I experience, including senior guard Josh Meo, who transferred after playing for Coastal Carolina last season.
Meo averaged 8.5 points and 31.7 minutes per game for the Chanticleers in 2023–24, leading the team in assists (69) and ranking second in steals (18).
Winthrop continues to showcase its high-powered offense, having scored more than 80 points in each of its first two games. The Eagles ranked sixth nationally last year with 84.7 points per game and led the NCAA in both free throws made (19.1) and attempted (28.5) per contest. They have already attempted 60 free throws through two games this season.
Coastal head coach
Justin Gray has a personal tie to the Winthrop program — he played for Mark Prosser's father, Skip, at Wake Forest. Gray also succeeded Mark Prosser at Western Carolina in 2021 when Prosser left for the Winthrop job.
Tuesday's contest will be the 88th all-time meeting between the programs. Coastal leads the series 45–42 and holds a 30–13 advantage at home, including a 5–3 mark at the HTC Center. The Chanticleers won 15 straight over the Eagles from 1989–95, a stretch highlighted by a victory in the 1993 Big South Tournament Championship Game.
The CCU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is sponsoring a food drive in partnership with Shepherd's Table. Fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable items with them to the game. Collection boxes will be located at the arena entrances.
