SPARTANBURG, S.C. – With 10:49 remaining in the game USC Upstate trailed VMI 64-54, sophomore forward Brandon Martin (Miami, Fla.) scored six unanswered coming out of the media timeout and sparked a Spartans comeback as USC Upstate defeated VMI 91-82 for their third consecutive win on Sunday afternoon.  
 
For the first time since the 2016-17 season USC Upstate (5-8, 0-0 BSC) has now scored 90-plus points in consecutive games. Four Spartans ended the game in double figures, Bryson Mozone (10 points), Cartier Jernigan (11 points), Brandon Martin (23 points), Everette Hammond (31 points). USC Upstate also shot an even 50 percent from the field on the night. The Spartans improve to 4-1 in the month of December and they are currently averaging 81-points per game.
 
USC Upstate jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the opening three minutes of playing time but VMI (5-9, 0-1 SOCON) countered with an 11-4 run going into the first media timeout. Both teams then matched each other shot-for-shot over the next several minutes. A Thomas Booker pull-up jump shot gave the Spartans a slight 22-19 advantage heading into the second media timeout of the half. With 8:43 remaining in the half Bryson Mozone drained a three-pointer to give USC Upstate a 31-22 lead. The rest of the quarter the Spartans held off a pair of VMI runs and went into the halftime break up 48-41.
 
Everette Hammond led all-scorers with 16-points in the opening half of play. Travis Evee led VMI with 14-points in the first half and Kamdyn Curfman contributed 11-points.
 
VMI battled back in the opening moments of the second half and the game was tied at 50 with 16:37 remaining in the game. The Keydets began to build their lead and went on a 14-4 run to take a 64-54 advantage over the Spartans. Then Brandon Martin scored six unanswered points and USC Upstate was right back in the game. Slowly, USC Upstate began to chip away at VMI's lead and at the 7:04 mark of the half Hammond converted an old fashioned three-point play to tie the game at 69. Moments later Jernigan and Mozone hit back-to-back three-pointers sending the crowd into a frenzy. USC Upstate fed off the crowd and build a 13-point lead with 36 seconds to go in the game.
 
Martin and Hammond accounted for 32 of the teams 43 points in the second half. In the second half alone the Spartans forced nine Keydet turnovers and scored 15-points off the miscues. Meanwhile, the Spartans took care of the ball as they had just one turnover in the second half.

Notes
Upstate- Hammond ended the day with a career high 31-points placing him ninth in school's all-time record book. Hammond also becomes the first Spartan to score 30-points in a game since Deion Holmes accomplished the feat against Winthrop last season. Hammond also finished the day as the team's leading rebounder with seven boards.
 
Martin ended the game an efficient 9-of-11 from the field to finish with a career high 23-points. Martin's .818 field goal percentage is tied for sixth best in school history.
 
Jernigan scored a career high 11-points and recorded a career high 8 assists in the victory over VMI. The freshman point guard also led the team with a trio of steals in the game.

VMI – Evee finished with a team high 25-points in the loss to USC Upstate. Garrett Gilkeson added 15-points and Kamdyn Curfman contributed 11-points.  

UP next for the Spartans
USC Upstate will begin Big South Conference play on the road against Charleston Southern. The game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off on January 2 inside the Buc Dome.
 
The Spartans home opener will be on Wednesday, January 8 against Hampton University. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

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