WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Erskine College men's basketball team (3-13) advanced to the NCCAA South Region Championship Game with a 68-57 win at Carolina University (8-8) at Williams Gymnasium on Wednesday night.
 
GAME ESSENTIALS:
Conf. Carolinas Standings | Stats | Scores
Div. II Scores | Record Book | CC Digital Network
 
THE SERIES
Tonight was the first meeting between the Fleet and the Bruins.

THE GAME
Erskine's balance on offense showed itself straight from the tip-off as a different Fleet player scored each of their first eight baskets of the game to help give the Fleet an early 21-12 lead. Erskine kept the Bruins at arms length throughout the remainder of the half and a pair of Uzziah Dawkins free throws capped a 7-2 Erskine run as the Fleet took a 36-28 lead into the half. The Fleet used that momentum to blow the game open with an 18-3 run to begin the second half as an Emandi Brooks three put Erskine up 23 points just six minutes into the second half. Brooks added another triple moments later, and Carolina eventually trimmed the deficit to 11 as the Fleet's offense went quiet. But, Travis Walters stopped the momentum with a three of his own to put Erskine up 66-52 and a pair of Jalen Miller free throws late sealed a 68-57 Erskine victory in the NCCAA South Region Semifinal.

THE PLAYER
Travis Walters had his first double-double of the season (14 points, 12 rebounds) and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the field including a three-pointer.

THE TEAM
Erskine shot 25-56 (44.6%) from the field and was 7-24 (29.2%) from the three-point line. The Fleet were 11-13 from the free throw line, and outrebounded Carolina 38 to 23. Erskine also got 23 points from its bench, including eight from Emandi Brooks.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Fleet advance to the 2021 NCCAA South Region Championship Game at Columbia International University (14-7) on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. The winner advances to next week's NCCAA Tournament next week in Indiana. 

Erskine and Columbia International have never faced off before in their history.

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