ROCK HILL, S.C. – Presbyterian had three double-figure scorers paced by Jonah Pierce's double-double, the Presbyterian Blue Hose (14-17, Big South: 7-9) lost to the Winthrop Eagles (21-10, Big South: 13-3), 74-70, on the road in the regular season finale.

Pierce recorded a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Carl Parrish went 9-for-9 from the free throw line on his way to 19 points. Triston Wilson rounded out Presbyterian's double-figure scorers with 12 points. Jaylen Peterson nearly recorded a double-double with eight points and nine rebounds.   

HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF – Parrish got the Blue Hose on the board, connecting on a turnaround jumper in the lane.  The two teams exchanged baskets for the first five minutes. At the 14:30 mark of the half, PC jumped in front 11-8 after three from Josh Pickett at the top of the key and a hook shot in the paint from Pierce. Winthrop scored five straight points, regaining the lead. After two free throws from Parrish, the game was tied at 13 with 13 minutes left in the half. With Winthrop leading 17-16 with nine minutes on the clock, Winthrop scored 15 of the next 21 points to take a 32-20 lead with six minutes left on the clock. When Pierce scored in the lane with 39 seconds on the clock, Presbyterian had cut Winthrop's lead to five, 37-32. Winthrop scored the final two
points of the half, taking a 39-32 halftime lead.


SECOND HALF – Winthrop scored to start the second half, pushing their lead to nine points. Then, Presbyterian behind baskets from Pierce, Peterson, and a three-point play by Wilson went on a 7-0 run, cutting Winthrop's lead to 41-39, with 17:06 on the clock. Winthrop ended the run with a three from the wing. Presbyterian tied the score at 44 with 13:37 on the clock after a turnaround jumper in the lane by Parrish. The Blue Hose would take a 48-46 lead after a layup from Chidi Chiakwelu with 12:23 on the clock. Winthrop regained the lead, then, after Peterson scored the paint with 11:08 on the clock, Presbyterian moved back in front 52-51. Winthrop would regain the lead and push their advantage to 55-52. After baskets in the paint from Peterson and Pierce, the Blue Hose moved back in front 56-55 with 7:50 on the clock. The lead would exchange hands several times over the next several minutes. With 1:59 on the clock, Presbyterian held its last lead after a tip-in layup by Pierce, which gave PC a 70-69 lead. Winthrop scored the final five points of the game for the 74-70 win.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• Pierce recorded his Big South leading 16^th double-double of the season with his 20 points and 10 rebounds.
• Parrish tallied his 24^th double-figure scoring game with 19 points.
• Wilson recorded his 17^th double-figure scoring game of the season with 12 points.
• Presbyterian finished the game with a 44-26 advantage in points in the paint.

 
NEXT GAME
The Blue Hose will be back in action in the quarterfinals of the Big South Conference Tournament against the Radford Highlanders on Friday, March 6, at 8:30 p.m. at the Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City, Tennessee.