Thursday's matchUP
January 23, 7:00 pm

Upstate (7-12, 2-4 Big South) VS Winthrop (12-7, 6-0 Big South),
G.B. Hodge Center

TV: ESPN+  (Online and the ESPN app)

Game Notes: USC Upstate, Winthrop

Series History
This is the 19th meeting all-time between USC Upstate and Winthrop University. The Eagles hold a 10-8 advantage in the overall series and have won the past five matches dating back to the 2009-2010 season. Last season, Winthrop defeated USC Upstate 82-72 inside the G.B. Hodge Center. Deion Holmes was the only Spartan to reach double-figures last season when he scored 32-points in the loss.
USC Upstate is making its first trip to Rock Hill since the 2013-2014 season. That year the Spartans fell 82-74 to Winthrop, despite Torrey Craig scoring 31-points, Ty Greene adding 21-points and Ricardo Glenn contributing 14-points in the loss. The Spartans are looking for their first win in the series since February 20, 1984 when USC Upstate defeated Winthrop 72-63 in Rock Hill, S.C.

Last time out
UPSTATE – USC Upstate is coming off a 70-62 home loss to High Point University on Monday evening. Everette Hammond led the Spartans with 20-points and 5-rebounds in the contest. Tommy Bruner contributed 16-points and Bryson Mozone added 11-points off the bench.

Winthrop – Winthrop is 12-7 overall this season and a perfect 6-0 in Big South competition this season. The Eagles have won eight straight dating back to a December 14, 2019 loss to Furman. Winthrop is coming off a 61-56 win over preseason favorite Radford on Monday night. DJ Burns Jr. led the Eagles with 19-points and 8-rebounds in the win, while Hunter Hale contributed 12-points in the victory.

Ones to watch
UPSTATE – Everette Hammond and Tommy Bruner have provided the Spartans with a one-two punch for the majority of the season. Hammond is averaging 14.5 points per game and Bruner is averaging 12.3 points per contest. Bryson Mozone has provided a spark off the bench for the Spartans all season as he averages a league best 9.8 points off the bench. Freshman forward Jatayveous Watson made his first career start on Monday night and he has been playing a lot of minutes lately for the USC Upstate front court.

Winthrop – Five players are averaging double-digits this season for Winthrop, Josh Ferguson (12. 6 pts), Hale (12.4 pts), Burns Jr. (12.2 pts) and Chandler Vaudrin (10.3 pts). Vaudrin also leads the team in defensive rebounds (89), assists (109) and steals (31). Ferguson leads the team in total rebounds with 130 and Burns Jr. has a team high 14 blocks.

UP next for the Spartans
The Spartans next home game will be against UNC Asheville on Saturday, January 25, 2020. Tip-off is slated for 4:00 p.m. inside the G.B. Hodge Center.

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