SANCTUARY Point product Kyle Zunic and his Winthrop Eagles are off to the 2020 NCAA tournament after they defeated fifth-seeded Hampton 76-68 in Sunday's Big South Conference men's basketball title game.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Eagles' win, which saw them fight back from a 15-point deficit, secured the school their 12th Big South Conference title - the equal biggest comeback under coach Pat Kelsey.
At the Winthrop Coliseum, Hampton, which finished 8-10 during the season, appeared like it might pull a monster upset in Sunday's decider - which would have booked them their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2016.
The Pirates led Winthrop, the conference tournament's two seed, for the league's automatic bid by 15 before the midway point of the first half.
Thankfully for former Sanctuary Point Pubic School student Zunic and his team that didn't hold up.
The Eagles dominated the second half, outscoring their opponents 48-35 thanks to 66 per cent shooting from the field - to seal the eight-point win and the school's first NCAA tournament appearance since 2017.
DJ Burns (16 points) led the way for Zunic's Eagles, with Chase Claxton and Hunter Hale both scoring 10 in the win - with the latter being named tournament MVP.
In the victory, Zunic, who recently received a Big South Conference All-Academic honour, added six points, eight rebounds and one assist.
The Eagles will find out their NCAA tournament opponent next Sunday, which excites coach Kelsey.
"You walk in the gym and there are going to be (four) games that day so the air is frigid," Kelsey said to Eagles Media.
"There's blue carpet all over the back hallways.
"And everybody has a lanyard on like 'Wayne's World' - it's just awesome."