Box Score (.pdf)

Charleston, S.C. – Mike Cunningham's 3-pointer with seven seconds left in the game lifted the USC Upstate men's basketball team to a 79-77 victory over the Charleston Southern Buccaneers Saturday evening inside Buccaneer Field House.

Upstate improves to 2-2 on the season while Charleston Southern falls to 1-2 overall.

Cunningham led four Spartans in double-figures while Philip Whittington recorded his first double-double of the season. Javis Howard was one of two Buccaneers that scored over 10 points.

GAME BREAKDOWN

• Neither team led by more than three points during the game's opening nine minutes until a layup by Christian Keeling put Charleston Southern ahead 16-11 with 9:39 to go. Patrick Wallace gave the Buccaneers their largest lead of the half at 19-13 following his 3-pointer at the 9:10 mark.
• Upstate answered with five straight points on a 3-pointer from Ramel Thompkins and a layup by Deion Holmes on back-to-back possessions to go in front 21-19 as the clock hit the 7:42 mark.
• Charleston Southern would lead by five three times over the final 5:33 of the first half with the last coming at 31-26 on a layup by Jordan Jones.
• Thompkins and Cunningham combined to score the Spartans next eight points to take their largest lead in the half, 40-35, with 43 seconds left. Carson Smith sent Upstate into halftime leading 42-37 after his layup.
• The Spartans maintained at least a four-point advantage for the first three minutes of the second half when Holmes made the score 47-43 at the 17:34 mark. The Buccaneers took the lead back two possessions later and held it for nearly 12 minutes.
• Charleston Southern took its largest lead of the game with 10:31 remaining at 60-53 on a free-throw from Armel Potter.
• Upstate answered back just before the eight minute mark when Whittington's jumper tied the game 61-61, but the Buccaneers responded with five consecutive points to lead 66-61.
• The final four minutes of the game featured a tie and one lead change as the Spartans led by as many as three points twice with the last coming at the 2:11 mark when a jumper by Holmes gave Upstate a 75-72 advantage. Keeling and Wallace scored five straight points for Charleston Southern to put it back on top 77-75 with 21 seconds remaining.
• Cunningham hit the second game-winning basket of his career, both 3-pointers, with seven seconds remaining as the Spartans took a 78-77 lead. The sophomore sealed the two-point win for Upstate courtesy of his free-throw with one second left.

• The Spartans picked up their first win in program history over the Buccaneers. Charleston Southern had won the previous three meetings with the two teams having not met since the 1979-80 season.
• Cunningham scored a game-high 21 points on 6-of-11 shooting, and was joined in double-figures by Holmes (17), Thompkins (12) and Whittington (10).
• Whittington recorded the second double-double of his career after pulling down a team-high 10 rebounds. Thompkins just missed on his second double-double following an eight rebound performance.
• Cunningham and Josh Cuthbertson both dished out four assists in the game.
• Thompkins tied his career-high of four made 3-pointers while Whittington set a new career-high of four blocks.
• Howard led the Buccaneers offensively with a double-double on 16 points and 12 rebounds. Keeling added 15 points and eight rebounds.
• Upstate finished the game shooting 45.0% (27-of-60) overall including a 44.0% (11-for-25) mark behind the 3-point line.

• The Spartans continue their seven-game road trip on Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. against Charlotte.