SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Interstat) — Kareem Rozier scored 24 points and the Winthrop Eagles used a dominant first half to cruise past the South Carolina Upstate Spartans 71-50 in a Big South Conference men’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at the G.B. Hodge Center.

The most important part of the game was the opening 20 minutes, where Winthrop established an insurmountable lead. The Eagles held the Spartans to just 19 first-half points on 7-of-30 shooting from the floor while forcing nine turnovers. Winthrop’s defense fueled a 19-0 run that spanned nearly seven minutes, turning a narrow 5-3 edge into a 24-3 stranglehold from which South Carolina Upstate never recovered.

Rozier, a 5-foot-9 guard from Detroit, was the catalyst, scoring 17 of his game-high total in the first half. His personal 9-0 burst, featuring a layup, a steal and consecutive three-pointers, was the centerpiece of the decisive run that put the Eagles ahead 38-19 at halftime.

The Spartans showed more life after the break, outscoring Winthrop 31-33 in the second half behind 16 points from Breylin Garcia. The 6-foot-6 forward from the Dominican Republic provided the primary offensive spark for the home team. Carmelo Adkins added 14 points for South Carolina Upstate.

But the Eagles’ early work ensured there was never any real threat. Winthrop answered every modest Spartan push, maintaining a lead that never dipped below 18 points in the final period. Isaiah Wilson supported Rozier with 10 points for the Eagles, while Kody Clouet and Logan Duncomb each added eight. Duncomb, a 6-foot-10 center from Cincinnati, also contributed three assists, two blocks and a game-high nine rebounds.

Statistically, the game was won on the perimeter and on the glass. Winthrop connected on 12 three-pointers compared to just two for South Carolina Upstate, a 30-point disparity from beyond the arc. The Eagles also crushed the Spartans on the offensive boards, 17-6, leading to 15 second-chance points and helping offset their own 38.7% shooting from the field.

Defensively, Winthrop was disruptive, recording 10 steals and six blocks while holding the Spartans to a frigid 34.5% shooting overall and an offensive rating of just 71.8 points per 100 possessions. South Carolina Upstate committed 14 turnovers.

The victory improved Winthrop to 11-8 overall and marked its third consecutive win in conference play. The loss dropped South Carolina Upstate to 8-10.

Winthrop, which entered the game as a 5.5-point favorite, easily covered the spread. The combined score of 121 points fell well under the over/under line of 157.5.

The Eagles continue their conference schedule at home against High Point on Wednesday. South Carolina Upstate travels to face Charleston Southern the same night.