ROCK HILL, S.C. - Charleston Southern battled back from an 18 points deficit in the second half, but came up short with a 55-53 loss vs. the Winthrop Eagles Thursday, at the Winthrop Coliseum. Jeremy Sexton had a shot to tie or win the game at the end of regulation, but an off balance shot bounced off the rim to secure the Eagle win. CSU dropped to 10-10 overall with a 5-5 mark in the Big South, while Winthrop improved to 10-10 and 6-4 in the conference.

Sexton posted 15 points on 4-10 shooting, while hitting 6-8 shots from the foul line. Jamarco Warren also tied a game high with 15 points, while adding four assists and three rebounds. Kelvin Martin reached double figures with 12 points and nine rebounds, while Kenny Mitchell recorded six points and a career high 10 boards. The Eagles spread out the offense, getting a team high 11 points from Andre Jones off the bench.

An all-around ugly first half started with a 4-0 Winthrop advantage. CSU got on the board with a Sexton free throw three minutes into the game, but continued to struggle from the field. Warren scored the first field goal for the Bucs, moving the score to 5-3 at the 15:30 mark.

The Eagles managed to gain some separation from there, using 12 second chance points in the frame to go up 19-8. Winthrop led by as many as 16, using another quick 5-0 burst to take a 30-14 advantage with 3:21 on the clock.

The Bucs did manage four consecutive free throws to end the half however, with two points from both Sexton and Warren. CSU went into the locker room down 32-20, after shooting just 3-23 from the field in the first half.

Martin started the second half with a basket, but the Eagles responded with an 8-1 run over the next three minutes to take an 18 point lead. Winthrop held their 18 point advantage out to the 15:18 mark, with a 44-26 score.

The Bucs finally got things rolling on offense, using an 11-1 run over a five minute stretch to close the gap to single digits. CSU made it a game late in the half, down just three with a 52-49 score, thanks to a Sexton layup with 4:33 remaining in the game.

The Bucs couldn't convert on four straight possessions with chances to tie however, as both teams were scoreless for over three minutes. CSU finally found the bottom of the next with a Martin tip in, making the score 52-51 with 1:25 left to play. After a Charles Corbin jumper, the Bucs came back with another finish from Martin, with just 32 seconds on the clock.

Winthrop failed to convert on a pair of one-and-one opportunities, but made one free throw to make the score 55-53 with 11 seconds to play. A missed free throw from Jones gave CSU a chance to tie or win it in regulation, but Sexton's jumper fell just short at the buzzer.

CSU will stay on the road this weekend, trying to bounce back as they travel to Presbyterian College for a 7:30 tip off.