JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Jan. 4, 2025) – Holding a five-point lead at the break, the ETSU men’s basketball team saw Wofford open the second half on a 20-4 run, and despite a valiant effort, the Buccaneers couldn’t get back over the hump as the Terriers held on for an 81-78 victory in front of 4,107 fans on Saturday night inside Freedom Hall.
Trailing by as many as 12 near the midway point of the second half, the Blue & Gold mounted a furious comeback in the closing minutes and pulled within a point with 22 seconds remaining. Unfortunately, in the final minute, ETSU missed four free throws, an open jumper and allowed Wofford to grab an offensive rebound following a missed free throw with five seconds remaining to seal the win.
On a night where both teams shot the ball well from the field, it was Wofford’s toughness that proved to be the difference maker. The Terriers outrebounded the Bucs by three, 26-23 and turned eight offensive rebounds into 12 second-chance points. For the game, the Bucs shot 54 percent (25-46) and the Terriers finished at 62 percent (29-47). Both teams made nine three-pointers; however, they struggled at the free throw line. ETSU finished 19-of-28 (14-of-22 in the second half), while Wofford was 14-for-29 (10-of-22 in the second half).
Three Bucs scored in double figures on Saturday with Quimari Peterson netting a game-high 18 points (15 in the second half). Jaden Seymour, who had the open look at a jumper in the paint with six seconds left and the Bucs down by one, tallied 14 points and seven rebounds. John Buggs III finished with 16 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.
With the loss, ETSU had its six-game home win streak snapped as the Bucs dropped to 8-7 overall and 1-1 in league play. After suffering a tough loss at home to UNCG on Wednesday, Wofford bounced back en route to improving to 7-8, 1-1.
