Box Score ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Behind five Spartans in double-figures for the first time since 2019, including a career-best evening from redshirt sophomore forward Ahmir Langlais, USC Upstate men's basketball outlasted South Carolina State Tuesday night in an 82-78 victory.
 
Langlais poured in a career-high 15 points, going 5-of-6 from the floor while adding a career-best seven boards in leading a balanced group of scorers against the Bulldogs. Joining Langlais in double-figures were senior forward Josh Aldrich (12), junior guard Mysta Goodloe (11), senior forward Bryson Mozone (11), and freshman guard Jordan Gainey (10).
 
In addition to his 12 points, Aldrich corralled a game-high eight boards as Aldrich, Langlais, and Gainey each grabbed seven or more rebounds. As a team, Upstate grabbed 42 rebounds, including 17 on the offensive glass, to outrebound the Bulldogs 42-26.
 
Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 82; South Carolina State 78
Records: USC Upstate (2-3; 0-0 Big South); South Carolina State (1-6; 0-0 MEAC)
Location: S-H-M Memorial Center | Orangeburg, S.C.
 
How It Happened
First Half

• After trading scores to open the half, South Carolina State was able to take the advantage as a 4-0 run gave the Bulldogs the first multi-possession lead of the game. Upstate quickly turned the tables as Quentin Hodge connected on a pair of free throws before Jordan Gainey found Mysta Goodloe in transition for a three-pointer as the Spartans regained the lead.
• Seeing the game tied at 14 all midway through the half, the Bulldogs began to see momentum swing in their direction as they grew their largest first-half lead to six points before Upstate began chipping away.
• Turning up the defensive pressure, Upstate doubled-up South Carolina State over the final seven minutes of the half as part of an 18-9 run. During the stretch, the Spartans permitted just two made field goals by the Bulldogs while Josh Aldrich contributed eight of his 12 points, as he connected from beyond the arc from the wing and the corner in the run.

Second Half

• Out of the locker room, Upstate began the half on a 10-1 run to push the team's lead to double-digits. Khydarius Smith tallied four points in the stretch as he dropped in a hook shot before attacking the offensive glass for a putback opportunity for four of his six points on the night.
• Seeing South Carolina State trim the Spartan lead to single digits, Upstate responded with a 15-6 run to push the lead to 17 points. The most emphatic moment in the sequence came as Quentin Hodge poked away a steal, feeding a long outlet pass to Bryson Mozone who slammed home the fastbreak opportunity.
• Behind a combination of hot shooting from beyond the arc and a consistent stroke at the free throw line, South Carolina State began chipping away at the Upstate lead, ultimately, shrinking the lead to single digits with four-and-a-half minutes remaining in the half.
• Despite making just one field goal over the final three-plus minutes of the half, Upstate was able to hold onto its lead behind a strong showing at the free throw line, converting 7-of-8 attempts during the game's final three-and-a-half minutes.

 
Notable

• Finishing with 15 points and seven rebounds Tuesday night, Ahmir Langlais set a career-high in both categories against South Carolina State. Of his career-best 15 points, 14 came in the second half as six of his seven boards came on the offensive glass.
• Corralling 42 total rebounds against South Carolina State, the Spartans outrebounded the Bulldogs by 16 boards (42-to-26). Of the Spartans' 42 rebounds, 17 came off the offensive glass, the highest total for the program since collecting 17 offensive rebounds against Hampton on Jan. 15, 2021.
• With five Spartans scoring in double-figures, Tuesday's game marked the first such game for Upstate since November 8, 2019, when five players scored 10-plus points against Truett-McConnell.

 
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