BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The USC Upstate men's basketball team had four players end the game in double-digits but it was not enough as Gardner-Webb handed the Spartans an 83-67 loss inside the Paul Porter Arena on Saturday afternoon.
 
Gardner-Webb (6-11, 2-3 BSC) opened the game on 6-0 run before Cartier Jernigan (Charlotte, N.C.) scored the Spartans first basket of the game at the 18:05 mark of the first half. Moments later USC Upstate (7-11, 2-3 BSC) was forced to call a timeout trailing 15-5 with 15:54 remaining in the period.
 
Brandon Martin (Miami, Fla.) provided a spark off the bench as he scored four points over a three-minute period. Despite the quick offensive outburst the Spartans still trailed by double-digits with eight minutes to go in the half. A 10-3 run over a three-minute span gave the Bulldogs a 37-19 advantage with 2:35 remaining in the period.
 
Tommy Bruner (Columbia, S.C.) went on a quick 4-0 spurt to pull the Spartans closer to the Bulldogs lead. The offensive outburst was not enough as USC Upstate trailed going into the halftime intermission 42-26.
 
Bruner led the Spartans with nine points in the opening half, while Jaheam Cornwall finished the period with 11-points to lead all scorers.
 
Bruner scored the opening basket for the Spartans in the second half. Gardner-Webb began the half on an 8-2 run before the Spartans countered with a 4-0 spurt. Going into the first timeout of the second period USC Upstate trailed 55-38.
 
Coming out of the timeout the Spartans went on a 6-2 run to cut into the Bulldogs lead. Midway through the period the Spartans were shooting an even 50 percent from the floor. USC Upstate called a timeout trailing 73-54 with 5:53 remaining in the game.
 
Jatayveous Watson (Newnan, Ga.) proved to be a bright spot off the bench for USC Upstate as the freshman had a career high nine points and five rebounds in the contest at the 3:25 mark of the second half. The Spartans ended the game making five of their last seven field goals from the floor.  

Notes

Upstate – Hammond led the Spartans with 16-points, Bruner finished second on the team with 14-points and a team best three assists. Watson set a career high in both points (11) and rebounds (6), Bryson Mozone (North Augusta, S.C.) contributed 10-points off the bench to round out the double-digit scorers.  

Gardner-Webb – Jose Perez had a game high 19-points and 6-assists for the Bulldogs. Eric Jamison Jr finished second on the team with 18-points and recorded a team high 9-rebounds in the game. Cornwall finished with 15-points and Nate Johnson contributed 14-points in the win.  

UP next for the Spartans
USC Upstate will be back at home on Monday, January 20 against High Point University. Tip-off is slated for 6:00 p.m.

Tickets
Start at $8.00 (adults), $5.00 (ages 3-17); 864-503-7190 and upstatespartans.com.


Keep UP with the Spartans
Facebook (UpstateAthletics)
Twitter (@UpstateMB)
Instagram (@upstatespartans)
YouTube (USCUpstateAthletics)