CLINTON, S.C. (Interstat) — Triston Wilson scored 28 points and the Presbyterian Blue Hose unleashed a dominant second-half performance to erase a 12-point halftime deficit and defeat the Longwood Lancers 72-65 in a Big South Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Templeton Center.

The victory avenged a seven-point home loss to Longwood just over a month ago and evened Presbyterian’s overall record at 14-14, while Longwood fell to 14-15.

The game turned on a staggering reversal of fortune after halftime. Longwood, led by Elijah Tucker’s efficient interior play, controlled the first half, building a 37-25 lead by holding Presbyterian to just 25 points on 34.6% shooting. The Lancers’ defense forced nine first-half turnovers and seemed poised to sweep the season series.

The second half was a different story entirely. Presbyterian emerged from the locker room with frantic defensive energy, immediately sparking a game-altering run. The Blue Hose opened the half on a 14-2 surge, erasing Longwood’s cushion in less than four minutes. Wilson, a 6-foot-6 junior from Miami, Florida, was the catalyst, hitting two 3-pointers and a dunk during the burst, part of his 22-point second-half total.

Presbyterian’s defensive pressure was the engine of the comeback. The Blue Hose recorded 14 steals for the game, converting 25 points off 19 Longwood turnovers. Their ability to turn defense into offense was stark, outscoring Longwood 20-5 in fastbreak points. This disruptive style allowed Presbyterian to attempt 16 more free throws than Longwood, making 16 to the Lancers’ 8, a critical disparity in a tight contest.

While Wilson’s scoring barrage led the way, he was supported by a balanced effort. Carl Parrish added 15 points, Jonah Pierce scored 13 and Jaylen Peterson contributed nine points, seven rebounds and three steals. The Blue Hose also shared the ball effectively, tallying 14 assists on 26 made field goals.

Longwood, which shot a solid 55.1% from the floor in the game, could not withstand the Presbyterian onslaught. The Lancers committed 12 of their 19 turnovers after halftime, disrupting their offensive flow. Tucker, a 6-foot-8 forward from Canton, Georgia, finished with 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Johan Nziemi added 13 points and Jacoi Hutchinson had 10, but the Lancers’ offense became stagnant and mistake-prone under duress.

The most important sequence of the game encapsulated the night’s themes. With just over a minute remaining and Presbyterian clinging to a 68-66 lead, Longwood’s Johan Nziemi lost the ball dribbling against pressure. On the ensuing possession, Wilson calmly sank a pull-up jumper to extend the lead to four with 1:19 left. After a Longwood miss, Wilson secured the defensive rebound, was fouled, and made both free throws to push the lead to six with 45 seconds left, effectively sealing the outcome.

Presbyterian’s offensive efficiency in the second half was remarkable, scoring 47 points on 61.5% shooting. Their offensive rating of 110.2 for the game far surpassed Longwood’s 96.2, underscoring their superior execution, particularly down the stretch.

The win moved Presbyterian to a .500 record in all competitions and provided momentum as they prepare for a road game at South Carolina Upstate on Saturday. Longwood, which had won the previous meeting between the teams 77-70 on Jan. 10, will look to rebound quickly when they travel to face Charleston Southern, also on Saturday.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Presbyterian entered with a 56.9% probability to win and covered the pregame spread of -2. The total score of 137 fell just under the over/under line of 138.5. An announced crowd of 265 watched the comeback at the Templeton Center.