SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The USC Upstate men's basketball team set a new school record on Thursday night when they connected on 16-three-pointers against Winthrop, but it was not enough as the Eagles came away with a 90-82 win in front of a sold-out G.B. Hodge Center on Senior Night.  
 
USC Upstate (11-19, 6-11 BSC) lost the opening tip-off to Winthrop (20-10, 14-3 BSC) as the Eagles scored the first four points of the game. At the 16:43 mark of the half Brandon Martin (Miami, Fla.) scored the Spartans first points of the game at the free-throw line and Tommy Bruner (Columbia, S.C.) made a transition three-pointer to put the Spartans up 5-4 going into the first media timeout break.
 
Over the next four minutes of action it was a back-and-forth affair between the two squads as they went basket-for-basket. A 7-0 run sparked by Thomas Booker (Nashville, Tenn.) gave the Spartans an 18-12 lead with 11:16 to play in the opening half.
 
Then like a prize fight between two heavy weight boxers, Winthrop countered with a run of their own to pull ahead 21-20. USC Upstate withstood the run and moments later Bruner passed to an open Mysta Goodloe (Winston-Salem, N.C.) who connected on a three-point attempt to give the Spartans a 29-25 advantage.
 
For the remainder of the half the two teams battled down the stretch and for the second time this season the two squads went into the locker room tied.
 
Knotted at 38-points at the halftime intermission, Bryson Mozone (North Augusta, S.C.) led all scorers with 10-points in the opening period. Hunter Hale led the Eagles with 9-points in the opening period.
 
Winthrop opened the second half on a 17-7 run to take a 55-45 lead over the Spartans with 15:07 remaining in the period. USC Upstate quickly countered, however, as Brandon Martin made back-to-back mid-range jumpers to pull the Spartans within a trio of points at 57-54.
 
Despite the Spartans best efforts the Eagles offense continued to click as Winthrop capitalized on a 13-4 run to take back a double-digit lead. For the remainder of the game USC Upstate chipped away at the Eagles lead with numerous three-point baskets.
 
With 2:51 remaining in the game Bruner pulled down the offensive rebound and passed out to Dalvin White (Norcross, Ga.) who rattled in his fourth three-pointer of the night and pulled the Spartans back within five-points of the Eagles. USC Upstate was unable to catch Winthrop down the stretch as the Eagles converted on their free-throw opportunities.  

Notes

Upstate – The Spartans honored three senior's tonight, student-athletes Thomas Booker, Andrew Tate and student-manager Austin "Rudy" Mays.
 
USC Upstate shot 51 percent from beyond the arch on Thursday night and set a new school record for made three-pointers in a game at 16. As a team the Spartans dished out 25-assists, which is a new season best and was the 8^th most in school history.
 
Tommy Bruner tied for the team lead in points with 13 and led the team in assists with 9 on the night. Bruner's 9 assists rank 5^th in the school's all-time record book.
 
Bryson Mozone tied for the team lead in points with 13 on the night, Dalvin White contributed 12-points and Everette Hammond added 10-points. Mysta Goodloe led the team with five rebounds on the night.

Winthrop – Josh Ferguson led the Eagles with 22-points and 8-rebounds in the win. Hunter Hale added 19-points, while Russell Jones Jr. and Chase Claxton each scored 12-points for Winthrop.

UP next for the Spartans
USC Upstate will hit the road this coming Saturday against Hampton University, tip-off is slated for 4:30 p.m.

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