The Sports Network

DATE & TIME: Tuesday, March 5, 12 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: HTC Center (3,600) -- Conway, South Carolina. Television: None. Home Record: Winthrop 11-4, Charleston Southern 11-3. Away Record: Winthrop 2-12, Charleston Southern 6-8. Neutral Record: Winthrop 1-0, Charleston Southern 0-0. Conference Record: Winthrop 6-10, Charleston Southern 12-4. Series Record: Winthrop leads, 36-23.

GAME NOTES: The Winthrop Eagles look to take down the South Division's No. 1- seeded Charleston Southern Buccaneers when the two square off in the quarterfinal round of the Big South Tournament at the HTC Center.

The Bucs and Eagles split the season series as both teams won at home. CSU used a number of big runs to rush Winthrop in the first meeting. The Bucs had runs of 15-4 and 17-4 in each half, respectively, to take the first meeting, and finished with five players in double figures. Winthrop used a 1-for-24 start by the Bucs from 3-point range in the February meeting to take a 70-65 decision. The Bucs rallied from 17 points down to cut the lead to three late, but could never pull back to even. The split left Winthrop with a 36-23 all- time series lead.

The winner of this game advances to take on the Longwood/VMI winner in the semifinal round.

Winthrop opened up its postseason life on Tuesday with a 60-58 overtime victory over Radford that lifted it to a 14-16 overall record. The victory marked the third in four games for the Eagles. Winthrop is a defensive-minded team as it has the lowest scoring offense in the conference at 60.4 ppg to go along with the second-best scoring defense make of only 61.6 allowed points per tilt.

Joab Jerome lifted Winthrop to the win versus Radford as he made the game-winning layup with two seconds remaining in the extra session to register the contest's deciding points. Jerome finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds while Reggie King chipped in 11 points. The Eagles shot 39 percent from the field and limited the Highlanders to 37 percent efficiency from the floor to capture the win.

Charleston Southern rolled to the No. 1 overall seed in the Big South for the first time in 26 years with impressive scoring and rebounding efforts. The Buccaneers rank second in the league in points scored (74.6 pg), while leading the way in rebounds (39 pg). The Buccaneers' work on the glass had them among the 25 best teams in the country as well. Four different players averaged in double figures for the Bucs, who are seeking their fifth Big South title and first since 1997.

Saah Nimley (16.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 5.2 apg) was one of the most versatile players in the conference this season, while Arlon Harper (14.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg), Martiang Muo (11.3 ppg) and Jeremy Sexton (10.2 ppg) all provided additional scoring help.

Although this one could easily go either way, the Bucs' homecourt edge will give it a slight advantage. Charleston Southern has a much more balanced attack and should be well-rested as it prepares to tangle with Winthrop.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Charleston Southern 64, Winthrop 62