GREENSBORO, N.C. – Trailing by as many as 14-points with 11:00 minutes to go in the second half, Tommy Bruner (Columbia, S.C.) and Dalvin White (Norcross, Ga.) jump started the USC Upstate offense and closed within 4-points of UNC Greensboro, but time ran out before the Spartans could complete the comeback as they fell 65-57 at the Greensboro Coliseum on Tuesday evening.
 
After several missed jumpers by both teams started the game, White scored the first points for either side with a free throw at the 18:03 mark of the first half. UNC Greensboro's (3-3) Mohammed Abdulsalam scored the first field goal of the game a few seconds later and Hayden Koval scored quickly as UNC Greensboro took an early 4-1 advantage.
 
Nevin Zink (Newtown, Conn.) ended a 10-0 run by UNC Greensboro with 14:28 remaining in the opening half. The layup from Zink was also the Spartans first made field goal of the game. The junior center then scored the next three field goals for the Spartans on the offensive end, Bryson Mozone (North Augusta, S.C.) added a trio of free throws and the Spartans trailed 15-10 with 10 minutes to play in the first half.
 
Another offensive drought by both teams ended with a Khydarius Smith (Fort Mill, S.C.) layup at the 7:47 mark of the first period. The layup from Smith brought Upstate (0-7, 0-2 Big South) within a trio of points of UNC Greensboro at 15-12. Moments later Josh Aldrich (Wilmington, N.C.) and Mozone hit back-to-back three pointers and USC Upstate closed within a point of UNC Greensboro. With 2:44 to play in the opening half, Bruner nailed a mid-range jumper to give USC Upstate a 22-21 advantage.
 
UNC Greensboro responded with a 7-2 run to take a 28-24 lead into the halftime break. Mozone and Zink led USC Upstate with six-points a-piece, while Khyre Thompson led all scorers with 11-points off the bench for UNC Greensboro.
 
UNC Greensboro opened the second half on an 11-3 run and put the pressure on the Upstate offense. Despite trailing by 14-points on two separate occasions, Bruner kept USC Upstate within striking distance of UNC Greensboro.
 
A quick 7-0 outburst by the Upstate at the 9:42 mark of the second half had the Spartans right back in the game, trailing 45-38. UNC Greensboro ended the run quickly and held a 54-41 with just &;41 remaining in the game. Upstate did not give up, as they slowly broke down the UNC Greensboro double-digit lead. With just 2:57 remaining in the contest, White nailed a three-pointer and the Spartans were back with five points of UNC Greensboro.
 
With 56 seconds left in the half Mozone hit a three-pointer and the Spartans trailed 61-54. The Spartans gave it their best shot but despite a pair of good looks at the basket, the ball would not go through the twine. UNC Greensboro converted on their free throws down the stretch and came away with a 65-57 victory.
 
Bruner led the Spartans with 13-points, 8-rebounds, 4-assists, a pair of steals and a team high 36 minutes. White finished with 12-points and a 5-rebound effort against UNC Greensboro. Zink came off the bench and scored 11-points on an efficient 5-of-6 shooting from the floor.
 
Thompson led all scorers with 16-points after a perfect 4-of-4 shooting from beyond the arch. Keyshaun Langley and Abdulsalam each finished with 9-points for UNC Greensboro.
 
UP next for the Spartans
The Spartans will be traveling to the Volunteer State next week to take on the Tennessee Volunteers tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m. on December 23^rd.
 
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