March 1, 2002

ROANOKE, Va. (AP) - Three-time defending champion and top-seeded Winthrop raced to a 23-7 lead Friday night and eased to a 77-66 victory against fifth-seeded Elon in the semifinals of the Big South Conference tournament.

The Eagles (18-11) will play the winner of Friday night's second semifinal between Radford and High Point on Saturday for an automatic NCAA tournament berth.

Elon (13-16), which missed 13 of its first 14 shots, rallied to within 25-17, but trailed 41-25 at halftime. The Phoenix got within 59-49 with 5:42 to play, but got no closer than nine points again, and that was with just 1:38 remaining.

Marcus Stewart led four player in double figures for Winthrop with 16 points. Pierre Wooten added 13, Tyrone Walker had 11 and Tywan Harris 10.

Brendon Rowell paced the Phoenix with 21 points and Jackson Atoyebi had 11.