ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The USC Upstate men's basketball team saw their three game winning streak come to a close on Thursday night as the UNC Asheville Bulldogs came away with an 84-71 victory.
 
UNC Asheville (10-12, 4-7 BSC) opened the game on a 10-3 run, but USC Upstate (10-14, 5-6 BSC) fired back with a 10-2 run capped by a Khydarius Smith (Fort Mill, S.C.) layup. Leading 13-12 the two teams went back-and-forth for the next several moments. Tied at 22 all with 8:10 remaining in the first period the Bulldogs went on a quick 4-0 spurt before the Spartans countered with a run of their own. The two teams were neck-and-neck the rest of the half, UNC Asheville ended the half on a 5-0 run to take a three-point lead into the halftime intermission.
 
Trailing 39-36 coming out of the halftime intermission the Spartans came out firing in the second half. Tommy Bruner (Columbia, S.C.) drove to the basket and made a contested layup, he converted the ensuing free throw to tie the game at 39. Moments later Everette Hammond (Silver Springs, Md.) scored the go-ahead layup to give the Spartans a 41-39 edge over the Bulldogs.
 
LJ Thrope went on a 4-0 run by himself to give the Bulldogs a 43-41 lead with 17:16 to play in the contest. Seconds later he picked up his fourth foul and he was forced to head to the bench. Despite his absence both the Spartans and Bulldogs offenses continued to score and USC Upstate trailed 48-45 with 15:57 remaining in the period.  
 
For the majority of the half the two teams stayed within a basket of each other. Then the Bulldogs went on a run and with 6:24 remaining in the game the Spartans trailed 70-58. The Spartans countered with an 11-8 run to cut into the Bulldogs deficit at 78-69. Time ran out before the Spartans were able to complete the comeback.
 
Notes

Upstate – Tommy Bruner led the Spartans for the third consecutive game with 22-points, Hammond contributed 14-points and tied for a team high six rebounds. Bryson Mozone and added 10-points and Smith ended with a career high 8-points in the loss.

UNC Asheville – Five Bulldogs ended the game in double figures with DeVon Baker leading the way 20-points. Lavar Batts added 12-points and LJ Thorpe and Taijon Jones each had 11-points in the win. Coty Jude rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10-points.  

UP next for the Spartans
The Spartans will be back at home this Saturday afternoon as they battle Gardner-Webb at 4:30 p.m. inside the G.B. Hodge center. For tickets Buy Here

Tickets
Start at $8.00 (adults), $5.00 (ages 3-17); 864-503-7190 and upstatespartans.com.

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