With only two more games to play, one if you’re High Point, the Big South basketball season is concluding. High Point has already clinched a share of the regular-season title and is followed by UNC Asheville, Winthrop and Radford. The conference tournament begins on March 5 and runs until March 9 in Johnson City, Tennessee.
Guards
Kezza Giffa, High Point, Senior
The Big South Preseason Player of the Year certainly showed why he was given the honor in October. Giffa scored 18 points and had four assists in a convincing victory over Charleston Southern. The Frenchman had an even better day in his next game against Gardner-Webb, where he dropped 23 points and six assists in another rout of the Runnin’ Bulldogs. He continues to be the engine of the Panthers. He is the reigning conference player of the week.
Colby Garland, Longwood, Sophomore
Longwood got back into the win column in their snow-day victory against Gardner-Webb, and Garland was fantastic. He accounted for 19 points and five assists in the first 90-point display of the season against Division I opposition for the Lancers. He was arguably more impressive in the close loss to UNC Asheville, where he scored 17 points and made 11 assists as the Lancers couldn’t hold on with a few minutes left.
Josh Banks, UNC Asheville, Fifth-Year Senior
Banks looked like a veteran in Asheville’s comeback win over Longwood this past Saturday. UNC Asheville has a lethal back-court duo with Jordan Marsh and Banks. Asheville is almost impossible to beat when they are both at their best. Banks had 30 points on 6-of-9 shooting from 3-point range against Longwood after only scoring eight in a poor outing against Radford.
Forwards
K.J Doucet, Winthrop, Senior
Winthrop took down Presbyterian on the road in their only game of the week. Doucet scored 24 points and registered six boards in a close game. If Winthrop can keep the road wins going, they will have plenty of momentum heading into the tournament.
Taje’ Kelly, Charleston Southern, Senior
Overall, it was a much better week for guards in the Big South than for forwards. Charleston Southern lost both games this past week, a blowout loss at High Point and a loss at home to USC Upstate. As he usually is, Kelly was the Buccaneers’ best player in both games. He scored 14 points, grabbed six rebounds against High Point, scored 23 points, and registered 13 rebounds. Kelly has 10 double-doubles this season, including non-conference games.
Reserves
Brandon Maclin, Radford, Junior
Radford’s impressive season continued with their emphatic victory against UNC Asheville on ESPNU. Maclin scored 20 points and had six assists and five rebounds on 7-of-13 shooting. Radford then hit a stumbling block against Presbyterian, losing 80-73. Maclin had 19 points in the loss.
Kobe Stewart, Presbyterian, Fifth-Year Senior
Presbyterian College lives and dies with Stewart. When he plays like he did this week, the Blue Hose are not far from unstoppable. Stewart scored 21 points and grabbed five rebounds in a narrow home loss to Winthrop. Presbyterian bounced back from the home loss and won on the road against Radford 80-73, where Stewart scored 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting.
Mister Dean, USC Upstate, Freshman
Upstate won their first Big South away game this week, taking down in-state rivals Charleston Southern 79-69. Dean had 16 points and six rebounds in only 25 minutes while shooting 6-of-11 from the field. Dean is the current conference freshman of the week and is a strong contender for freshman of the year.
