Upstate Begins Road Trip this Weekend at Creek Classic
11/22/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Spartanburg, S.C. – The USC Upstate men's basketball team starts a season-long eight-game road trip this weekend as the Spartans travel to Buies Creek, N.C. and compete against the Bowling Green Falcons, Abilene Christian Wildcats and Campbell Camels during the Creek Classic.
The Spartans begin the three-day tournament, hosted by Campbell, on Friday at 5 p.m. against Bowling Green followed by another 5 p.m. contest on Saturday versus Abilene Christian. Upstate wraps up tournament play Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. against Campbell.
The Spartans posted a 1-1 record in two games last week capped by a 79-59 victory over Paine College on Monday evening. Upstate also played Charleston Southern last Saturday where Ramel Thompkins scored a career-high 26 points while shooting a career-best 9-of-13 from the field and 8-for-11 behind the 3-point line. In the win over Paine, Deion Holmes came off the bench to score a season-high 24 points and fell just two shy of tying his career-best.
The Spartans currently rank second in the ASUN this season in 3-point field goal percentage and turnovers per game, and are tied for third in assists per game. Jure Span sits tied for second in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage and seventh in field goal percentage. Thompkins is second in the league in rebounds per game while Malik Moore ranks eighth in scoring.
Bowling Green enters the Creek Classic with a 3-1 overall record while Abilene Christian and Campbell are both 2-2 on the season.
Upstate is facing both Bowling Green and Abilene Christian for the first time in program history. The Spartans trail in the all-time series to Campbell 5-4 but have won the last two meetings including an 80-73 overtime victory last season at the Holy City Hoops Classic in Charleston, S.C.
Fans can follow the action this weekend on www.upstatespartans.com via live stats. All three games are being streamed on the Big South Network. Updates will also be posted on the Upstate men's basketball Twitter page (@UpstateMB).
The Spartans continue their road trip on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. against UNC Asheville.
Follow Upstate men's basketball on Facebook (UpstateAthletics), Twitter (@UpstateMB), Instagram (@upstatespartans), YouTube (USCUpstateAthletics) and text/e-mail alerts (www.upstatespartans.com/list-signup).
