Thursday's matchUP
February 27, 6:00 pm

Upstate (11-18, 6-10 Big South) VS Winthrop (19-10, 13-3 BSC)
G.B. Hodge Center

TV: WYCW-TV 62/ESPN+ (Online and the ESPN app)
PXP: Pete Yanity
Color: Dean Keener

Game Notes: USC Upstate, Winthrop

Recognition: The Spartans will be honoring three seniors on Thursday night – student-athletes Thomas Booker III and Andrew Tate as well as team manager Austin "Rudy" Mays. Senior Night festivities will begin around 5:45 p.m.
 
Ingles will be recognized at the first media timeout of the first half, Charles and Jakie Hodge will be recognized at the second media timeout of the first half. Drs. Brendan and Tressa Kelly will be recognized at the third media timeout of the first half.
 
In the second half USC Upstate faculty members chosen by the men's basketball team will be recognized at the first media timeout of the half.
 
Promotions: Auden Upstate will also be handing out free black t-shirts to the first 250 students who arrive at the game.  All fans are encouraged to WEAR BLACK to the game. 
 
This is the first over-the-air broadcast of a home men's basketball game from the G.B. Hodge Center since February 28, 2014 against ETSU.
 
Half Time Performance: The Dorman Blue Belles
 
Series History
This is the 20th all-time meeting between USC Upstate and Winthrop University. Winthrop holds an 11-8 all-time series lead and has won the past six matchups. Earlier this season the Eagles defeated USC Upstate 79-53. Winthrop outscored the Spartans 45-19 in the second half to take the first leg of the series this season. Bryson Mozone was the only Spartan to record double-digit points in the loss, the sophomore forward dropped 14 against the Eagles.

Last time out
UPSTATE – USC Upstate is coming off an 81-60 loss on Saturday afternoon to Radford University. Nevin Zink led the Spartan offense with 16-points and Brandon Martin contributed 11-points off the bench for USC Upstate.

Winthrop – Winthrop is coming off an 87-81 loss to Hampton on Saturday afternoon. D.J. Burns Jr. scored 19-points and Hunter Hale had 18-points in the loss to the Pirates. Chandler Vaudrin led the team in rebounds with 10-boards on the night.

Ones to watch
UPSTATE – Everette Hammond and Tommy Bruner have been the most consistent scorers for the Spartans all season. Both players rank inside the top-three in the Big South in free throw percentage as both players have eclipsed the 80 percent mark. Nevin Zink and Bryson Mozone are two other players that can help the Spartans win on Thursday night, each player has recorded a double-double this season.

Winthrop – A trio of Eagles are averaging double-figures this season, Hunter Hale (12.8), D.J. Burns Jr (12.7) and Josh Ferguson (10.8). Ferguson leads the team in total rebounds with 186 boards and Chandler Vaudrin is leading the team in assists with 157 on the season.

UP next for the Spartans 
USC Upstate will travel to the Commonwealth of Virginia on Saturday evening to play Hampton University at 7:00 p.m.
 
Tickets
Tickets for tomorrow night's game and the game against Winthrop can be found at upstatespartans.com or Buy Here.  

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