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SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Wofford didn’t just win Friday night — the Terriers took command early, throttled Erskine on the glass and never let the Flying Fleet breathe in an 81–57 victory at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium.
The Terriers (4–2) played like a team fully in sync, turning defensive stops into rhythm on the other end and using a series of crowd-lifting runs to stay unbeaten at home. From the moment the ball tipped, Wofford imposed its size, speed and depth on a game that rarely felt in doubt.
Terriers Set the Tone Early
Wofford’s opening push felt like a statement. After a couple of early exchanges, the Terriers strung together a flurry of stops and threes — the kind of run that instantly changes the temperature in the building. A Chace Watley three, a Jayden Tyler catch-and-shoot bomb, and a put-back from Rex Stirling ballooned the lead into double digits before Erskine knew what hit them.
By halftime, Wofford led 42–21, fueled by relentless rebounding and an offense that looked comfortable from every angle. It wasn’t flashy — it was effective, and it broke the game open.
Balanced Scoring Keeps the Pressure On
The Terriers didn’t need a single hero. They used everyone.
Jayden Tyler again proved why he’s becoming one of the team’s most important sparks, dropping 13 points and burying four threes. Every time Erskine seemed ready to make a push, Tyler answered with a shot that quieted the Fleet’s hopes.
Up front, Brian Sumpter played like a man who didn’t plan to miss. He went 5-for-5 from the field, added a game-high nine rebounds, and hammered home two dunks that lifted the energy in the arena. Combine that with Rex Stirling’s eight points and eight rebounds, and Wofford’s frontcourt became the driving force of the entire night.
Off the bench, Callum Richard gave Wofford another big, efficient body with 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting, while Watley, Maximo Ortega, Luke Flynn, and Brendan Rigsbee all chipped in seven to ten points apiece. It was depth, it was trust, and it was exactly the type of performance a well-coached team puts together.
Rebounding Dominance Defines the Night
If one number captured the energy: 40–13.
That was the rebounding margin — and it told the entire story. Wofford chased everything. Every loose ball, every long rebound, every physical play in the paint went to the Terriers. Sixteen of those boards were offensive, giving Wofford second chances that completely eliminated any Erskine momentum.
Even when the Terriers weren’t perfect — 12 turnovers and some missed free throws — the rebounding advantage masked every mistake.
Erskine Finds Life from the Perimeter
Despite the uphill battle, Erskine showed flashes.
Dorien Johnson and Max Peeler knocked down threes to spark pockets of offense, while Ruben Salazar attacked the lane and finished with a team-high 12 points. The Fleet hit 10 threes overall and outscored Wofford 36–39 in the second half, but the first-half deficit and the overwhelming rebounding gap left them little room to rally.
A Confident Team Heading Into a Tough Stretch
This win won’t be the headline of Wofford’s season — but it’s exactly the kind of professional, businesslike performance a good team delivers in November.
The Terriers moved to 3–0 at home, handled an opponent they were expected to beat, and showed again that when they share the ball and dominate the glass, they can control a game from start to finish.
Next up: a road trip to Northern Kentucky on Nov. 26 — a test that will reveal just how far this depth and balance can carry the Terriers. But for now, Wofford fans left the gym with something familiar: a team that’s starting to find its stride, building confidence one possession at a time.
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