Bucs win SoCon Championship

The ETSU men’s basketball team delivered a national statement on Monday night after defeating the Wofford Terriers by a score of 72-58 at Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Asheville, North Carolina, in front of a sold-out crowd of 6,400.

Now having claimed the championship title, the Bucs punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

As a team, the Bucs shot 23-of-47 (48.9%) from the field, 9-of-21 (42.9%) from three-point range and held a free throw display of 17-of-19 (89.5%). The Bucs also managed to edge the Terriers in overall rebounds 32-27. 

Defensively, the Buccaneers shut down Wofford’s long-range attack. The Terriers shot a mere 6-of-25 (24%) from beyond the arc. 

Senior guard Isaiah Tisdale (Lexington, Kentucky) was a standout for the Buccaneers, compiling a 24-point display while also logging nearly 37 minutes on the court. Tisdale shot 5-8 from the field, and 4-7 for three point shots. Tisdale also knocked in 10-11 free throw attempts a new career high for the senior.

Tisdale’s performance throughout the weekend of the tournament also earned him the SoCon Tournament Most Valuable Player honor.

“It feels great,” said Tisdale. “This whole ride to this special moment has been an amazing trip.”

ETSU junior Bo Hodges (Nashville, Tennessee) scored eight points accompanied by eight rebounds, sending Hodges into the 1,000 point club for his ETSU career. Hodges becomes the 42nd Buccaneer to do so.

Senior forward Joe Hugley (Gaithersburg, Maryland) put in eight points and seven rebounds in 13 minutes of play.

Additionally, senior Tray Boyd III (Memphis, Tennessee) and sophomore Daivien Williamson (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) both earned SoCon All Tournament Team honors after each posting great tournament performances. Junior Patrick Good (Johnson City, Tennessee) earned the Pinnacle Award, which is awarded for carrying the highest grade point average of the team.

“The great thing about this team is [that] it’s a different guy every game, and tonight Isaiah was phenomenal,” said head coach Steve Forbes. “He just willed us to the win.”

With the victory, the Buccaneers have advanced to a 30-4 overall record on the season. Thirty wins in a season have only been accomplished by three other teams in the history of the Southern Conference, who began play in 1921.

The Bucs’ incoming visit to the NCAA Tournament marks their 11th visit in school history and second visit in the last four years. The bracket for the tournament match-ups will be announced on March 15 at 6 p.m and will be broadcast on CBS.