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CHARLESTON, S.C. — The shots kept falling, the pace never slowed, and Wofford never let the moment slip away. In a fast-moving Southern Conference matchup filled with scoring bursts and momentum swings, Nils Machowski delivered a performance that demanded attention. His career-high 37 points powered the Terriers to a 95–86 road victory over The Citadel on Saturday, a game Wofford controlled but never fully put away.
Fast Tempo and Early Control
Both teams came out attacking, trading baskets through the opening minutes. Wofford grabbed an early 10–6 lead as Machowski found space on the perimeter, but The Citadel answered with interior scoring to pull even. The game remained tight at 16–16 before the Terriers began to settle into their offensive rhythm.
Wofford stretched the lead to 24–18 behind improved ball movement and transition opportunities. Cayden Vasko consistently broke down defenders, while Machowski continued to convert from deep. The Citadel stayed within reach by crashing the boards and scoring second-chance points, trimming the margin to 28–26 midway through the half.
Terriers Create Separation Before Halftime
Wofford responded with one of its sharper stretches of the half. Machowski hit consecutive three-pointers to spark an 8–2 run, pushing the lead to 36–28. Braxton Williams and Christian Moore answered for The Citadel, cutting the deficit to six, but Wofford closed the half with composure.
A late bucket extended the Terriers’ advantage to 42–35 at halftime, giving Wofford momentum heading into the break.
Machowski Ignites Second-Half Surge
The second half opened with Wofford pressing the accelerator. Machowski opened the period with another three, then added two more during a decisive 10–2 run. The burst pushed the lead from 42–35 to 52–37 and forced The Citadel to call an early timeout.
Despite increased defensive pressure, Wofford continued to execute. Vasko attacked the lane and Kahmare Holmes scored inside as the Terriers maintained a double-digit edge. The Citadel slowly worked back into the game, trimming the margin to 60–52 behind aggressive drives and transition baskets.
Citadel Makes Its Push
The Bulldogs kept pushing midway through the half. Williams and Moore combined to cut the deficit to 66–60, igniting the home crowd. Carter Kingsbury added playmaking, and The Citadel briefly threatened to flip momentum.
Wofford answered each challenge. Machowski hit a contested three to restore breathing room, and Holmes followed with a midrange jumper. The Terriers steadied themselves and pushed the lead back to 74–65 entering the final stretch.
Closing Execution Seals the Road Win
Down the stretch, Wofford leaned on discipline and shot-making. The Citadel trimmed the margin to 78–72 with under five minutes left, but the Terriers responded with timely baskets and free throws. Machowski continued to deliver, extending the lead to 88–79 before Wofford closed out the final minutes calmly.
The Terriers finished strong to secure the 95–86 victory, never allowing The Citadel to fully close the gap.
Machowski finished with 37 points on 12-for-17 shooting, including 8-for-11 from three-point range and 5-for-5 at the line. Vasko added 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Holmes contributed 16 points to give Wofford balance.
Williams led The Citadel with 20 points, while Moore also scored 20. Kingsbury finished with 16 points and six assists.
What It Means Moving Forward
When the final seconds ticked away, Wofford had done more than survive a road test. The Terriers showed composure, balance, and the ability to respond whenever momentum tightened. With Machowski setting the tone and production spread throughout the lineup, Wofford left Charleston with another conference win and growing confidence as Southern Conference play continues.
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