Upstate Tips off 2016-17 Season against Georgetown, Mars Hill
11/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Spartanburg, S.C. – The 50th season of USC Upstate men's basketball begins on Saturday afternoon as the Spartans begin their 2016-17 season with a pair of games over the course of three days against the Georgetown Hoyas and Mars Hill Lions.
Upstate tips off its season on Saturday at 12 p.m. against Georgetown before returning to Spartanburg on Monday evening for its home opener at 7 p.m. versus Mars Hill.
The Spartans finished last season with a 10-22 overall record and 4-10 mark in the ASUN Conference, but have a league-best 90.3% of their scoring back from the 2015-16 season. Upstate returns 10 letterwinners from last season including five starters, and have five of its top scorers back including four who averaged 9.5 points or more per game. Michael Buchanan was an ASUN Second Team All-Conference selection while Deion Holmes garnered accolades on the All-Freshman Team. The Spartans also welcome three newcomers to the roster in Tim Hart, Thomas Booker and Nick Kornieck.
Georgetown finished last season with a 15-18 overall record and 7-11 mark in the BIG EAST Conference. The Hoyas are under the direction of 12th-year head coach John Thompson III, son of former Georgetown head coach and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee John Thompson.
Mars Hill posted a 9-19 record last year and went 5-17 in the South Atlantic Conference. The Lions are led by 5th-year head coach Rick Scruggs.
The Spartans are facing the Hoyas for the first time in program history and lead the all-time series over Mars Hill 9-4. Upstate and Mars Hill last met on Dec. 9, 2006 when the Spartans earned a 73-70 victory on the road. Monday's game will be the first between the two teams in Spartanburg since the 2005-06 season.
Fans can follow the action on www.upstatespartans.com via live stats. The season opener on Saturday will be televised on Fox Sports 2, while Monday night's game is being streamed live on WatchESPN and the ESPN app. Updates will also be posted on the Upstate men's basketball Twitter page (@UpstateMB).
Following the home opener on Monday, the Spartans remain at the Hodge Center to host UNC Asheville on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.
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