ROCK HILL, S.C. - Charleston Southern opened up a 27 point lead in the first half vs. the Winthrop Eagles Tuesday at the Winthrop Coliseum, but dropped a 52-57 heartbreaker after scoring just 10 second half points. It was the tale of two halves, as the Bucs shot 71 percent (17-24) from the floor, including 8-8 from behind the arc in the first 20 minutes, before a 15 percent (4-27) effort in the second half. With the loss, CSU dropped to 8-19 on the year with a 3-13 mark in the Big South, while Winthrop improved to 10-18 with an 8-9 conference record.

Omar Carter put up 22 points and 4 rebounds on 9-18 shooting to lead all scorers. Jamarco Warren had 19 points and 5 assists, including a 5-10 performance from behind the arc. The Bucs were shorthanded with the combination of injuries and sickness, playing five players for 28 minutes or more. For the Eagles, Andre Jones came on in the second half to score 19 total points, including some timely threes that took the lead for Winthrop.

Buccaneer fans have often wondered what would happen if Carter and Warren put together their best game on the same night. The two standout sophomores answered in a big way in the first 20 minutes of play against the Eagles. After a quick 5 points for Winthrop, CSU came roaring back with and 8-0 run, giving the Bucs a lead that they would hold for 36 minutes.

Another Carter three pushed it out to an 11 point lead with 12:25 on the clock. The first half was all CSU, with Warren and Carter leading the way to a 40-13 advantage. Winthrop made a mini run at the end of the half, but an acrobatic Warren layup put the Bucs up 42-19 during the break.

Carter had 20 first half points after shooting 8-11 from the floor and a perfect 4-4 from three. Warren had 16 points after 6-7 shooting and also went 4-4 from behind the arc.

Winthrop was able to flip the script in the second half, starting off aggressive and coming out of the gate with an 8-0 run. CSU struggled playing from ahead, as their baskets came few and far in between. The Bucs however, were able to maintain their double-digit lead all the way until the 10:02 mark in the second half.

Warren had another big three to take a 12 point advantage with 8:28 remaining in the game. Unfortunately, CSU started a scoring drought from that point that would continue until the end of the game.

The Eagles had 17 unanswered points to finish out the contest, taking the lead for the first time in the second half at the 1:50 mark with a 53-52 score. Winthrop went on to make another layup and hit two foul shots before a 57-52 final score.

The Bucs will do their best to forget what could have been tonight, as they prepare for the final two games of the regular season, including senior night at the Buc Dome on Thursday, February 26th, at 7:30 p.m.