CHARLESTON, S.C. – For the first time in four games the USC Upstate men's basketball team finds themselves on the wrong end of an 89-75 loss to Charleston Southern on Thursday night inside the Buc Dome.

Both USC Upstate (5-9, 0-1 BSC) and Charleston Southern (7-6, 1-0 BSC) got off to a hot start in the opening moments of the game. The Spartans shot 50 percent from the field and Tommy Bruner (Columbia, S.C.) had five points in under four minutes of action. The Buccaneers held the early lead after they went a perfect a five-for-five from the field to take a 15-9 lead into the first media timeout.
 
Out of the timeout the Spartans stayed focus and went on a 6-0 run to tie the game at 15-15. The Buccaneers countered with a 7-2 run to stay ahead 22-17 with 10:42 remaining in the opening period. Dontrell Schuler was a thorn in the Spartans side in the first half, Schuler led all scorers with nine points and was perfect on every shot attempt through the first 10 minutes of the game.
 
Thomas Booker drove to the basket out of the media timeout and brought the Spartans to within a pair of the Buccaneers. Moments later Schuler missed his first field goal of the game at the 8:11 mark and Bruner converted on a layup brining the Spartans within four points at 25-21.
 
In the final minutes of the first period Bryson Mozone began to catch fire from outside the arch. The sophomore guard went three-of-four from three-point range and led the Spartans with 11 first half points. Charleston Southern went into the halftime break ahead 44-35, Shuler led all scorers with 17-points and Phlandrous Fleming Jr. contributed 10-points in the opening period.
 
The Spartans kept it close in the opening moments of the second half, three-pointers made by both Mozone and Bruner had the Spartans down 61-51 with 12:36 remaining in the period. Charleston Southern went on a 21-10 run over the next six minutes to take a decisive advantage over the Spartans. Hammond then went on a 7-0 run to try and will the Spartans back into the game. The spark was too little too late as Charleston Southern picked up an 89-75 victory.  

Notes
Upstate- Everette Hammond led the Spartans in scoring with 19-points, Tommy Bruner added 17-points and Bryson Mozone contributed 14-points. Thomas Booker finished fourth on the team with 8-points in 20 minutes of action.

Charleston Southern – Four Buccaneers ended the game in double figures, Fleming Jr. (25 points), Shuler (19 points), Buskey (13 points) and Anderson (10 points).

UP next for the Spartans
USC Upstate will stay on the road this weekend when they travel to Longwood University this Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is slated for 3:00 p.m.
 
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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