Kyle Zunic helps Winthrop Eagles soar to Big South Conference championship win

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.

Zunic, of Sanctuary Point, added six points, eight rebounds and one assist in a solid performance.

While Cooks' Winthrop team was knocked out in the Big South Conference semi-finals in 2018, the Sydney Kings forward starred in that campaign. He was named the Big South Conference Player of the Year.

On Sunday, the Eagles had to fight back from a 15-point deficit to secure Winthrop their 12th Big South Conference title. It was the equal biggest comeback under coach Pat Kelsey.

Winthrop will find out their NCAA tournament opponent this weekend.

Kelsey told Eagles Media that he was excited by the prospect.

"You walk in the gym and there are going to be [four] games that day so the air is frigid," the coach said.

"There's blue carpet all over the back hallways. And everybody has a lanyard on like 'Wayne's World' - it's just awesome."

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Hampton, which finished 8-10 during the season, appeared like it might pull a monster upset at the Winthrop Coliseum, which would have booked them their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2016.

The Pirates led Winthrop, the conference tournament's two seed, by 15 points before the midway point of the first half. But the Eagles dominated the second half, outscoring their opponents 48-35 - thanks to 66 per cent shooting from the field - to seal Winthrop's first NCAA tournament appearance in three years.

DJ Burns (16 points) led the way for Zunic's Eagles, with Chase Claxton and Hunter Hale both scoring 10 in the win. Hale was later named the tournament's most valuable player.

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