Saturday's MatchUP
December 10, 2022 | 3:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (4-4; 0-0 Big South) vs. South Carolina State (1-9; 0-0 MEAC)
G.B. Hodge Center | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
TV: Ingles Nexstar Game of the Week | ESPN+ or WYCW/WWCW/WMYT
 
Series History
Saturday's meeting between USC Upstate and South Carolina State marks the fourth meeting between the two schools in the Spartans' Division I era (2007-pres.) as all meetings have come during the Dave Dickerson era (2018-pres.) of Upstate basketball. The Spartans have taken each meeting with the Bulldogs, including an 82-78 victory last season at South Carolina State. Of note, each game in the series has been decided by four or fewer points.
 
Last Time Out
December 3, 2022: USC Upstate 76; Western Carolina 64
December 6, 2022: Winthrop 81; South Carolina State 67
 
Players to Watch
Upstate: After scoring 20-plus points in back-to-back games for the second time in his career, sophomore guard Jordan Gainey garnered his first career Big South Player of the Week honor. He earned the award following a career-high 26-point performance versus Columbia International and a 21-point effort in a road victory at Western Carolina. On the season, he leads Upstate in scoring, averaging 16.5 points per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the field and a team-high 44.1 percent from three.
 
South Carolina State: Averaging 12.3 points per game this season, sophomore guard Lesown Hallums represents the Bulldogs' leading scorer this season. He's scored in double-figures in five games this season, three of those efforts seeing him score 20 or more points, including a season-high 22 versus East Carolina on Nov. 29.
 
UP Next for the Spartans
Coming off a week layoff by getting back to action Saturday, the Spartans don't have to wait near as long following its game versus South Carolina State as they travel to Florida State Tuesday. The game against the Seminoles marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs and features an 8:30 p.m. ET tip-off.
 
JOIN UP
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CHEER ON THE SPARTANS AT THE HODGE!
USC Upstate is offering a variety of ways for fans to watch Upstate Basketball this season! Tickets can be purchased through ticketreturn.com and options include courtside seats, season packages, two new mini-plan offerings, group packages, and individual game tickets. Click here to order your tickets.
 
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