William and Mary Men’s Basketball Faces Challenges and Triumphs at Rock Hill Classic

Rock Hill, S.C. – William and Mary Men’s Basketball Competes in Rock Hill Classic

On Friday, November 15, the William and Mary men’s basketball team, boasting a 3-3 record, participated in the Rock Hill Classic tournament held at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center. Over the weekend, the Tribe faced a challenging schedule that resulted in a heartbreaking pair of losses, followed by a decisive victory.

First Game: William and Mary vs. Winthrop

In their opening match against the host team, Winthrop, a strong contender predicted to finish second in the Big South, William and Mary fell into a deep hole early on. Struggling offensively, they managed only two field goals within the first four minutes of play. However, the Tribe mounted a stunning comeback right before halftime, scoring ten consecutive points to take a 46-39 lead into the locker room. Junior guard Kyle Frazier was instrumental in this turnaround, scoring 11 points in the first half and hitting 60% of his three-point attempts.

The second half saw the Tribe initially regain composure, stretching their lead to 84-77 with just over two minutes left. Yet, uncharacteristic turnovers allowed Winthrop to stay in the contest. With the clock winding down and a high win probability of over 94% favoring William and Mary, things took a dramatic turn. Frazier, an 80% free-throw shooter, missed two critical shots from the line. This set the stage for a breathtaking last-second play, where Winthrop’s Bryce Baker hit a three-pointer at the buzzer, stealing victory away from the Tribe.

Frustration and Opportunities

Head coach Brian Earl expressed disappointment over the team’s high number of turnovers, tallying 22 in total. He noted that this issue also contributed to a previous loss to Radford on November 8. “We’re a work in progress,” Earl remarked, emphasizing the need for players to make better decisions under pressure.

Second Game: William and Mary vs. North Carolina Central

The Tribe returned to the court on Saturday to take on North Carolina Central. Once again, William and Mary established a solid first-half lead, jumping ahead 22-15 thanks to strong performances from Kyle Pulliam and senior forwards Noah Collier and Matteus Case. Case was particularly effective, contributing a career-high of 19 points.

However, despite the initial lead, North Carolina Central rallied and surged ahead. Late in the game, the Tribe briefly took a 73-72 lead but couldn’t maintain their momentum. A last-second half-court shot by Case failed, resulting in another close loss for William and Mary, ending the game at 78-76. The Tribe struggled with their shooting, making just 4 of 18 three-point attempts compared to NC Central’s success from beyond the arc.

Final Game: Blowout Win Against Georgia Southern

On Sunday, November 17, William and Mary faced Georgia Southern, who had entered the tournament undefeated. After a tightly contested start, the Tribe surged ahead, outpacing their opponents with a remarkable 54-42 second half. They claimed victory with a final score of 102-87.

This time, the team played closer to their preferred up-tempo style, launching 44 three-pointers and successfully converting 36.4% of them. Collier led in scoring with 19 points, while Gabe Dorsey chipped in 17 points, and Chase Lowe made a significant impact with 8 rebounds and 4 assists.

Looking Forward

Coach Earl praised his team’s resilience, stating, “It was good to see after two close losses that the guys could come back punching.” He acknowledged that while the team still needs to make specific improvements, their performance against Georgia Southern was promising. The Tribe will continue its road trip facing North Carolina State on November 22.