SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Getting a career-high 16 points from junior guard Nick Alves in the second half, USC Upstate men's basketball posted its second-best second-half scoring total of the season as the Spartans mounted a furious comeback attempt Saturday afternoon against rival Furman.
 
Alves' first double-figure scoring game in a Spartan uniform—with all 16 of his points coming in the second half—led a quartet of double-figure scorers for the Spartans, having four or more players score 10-plus points for the second consecutive game. He finished the night 7-of-8 from the floor, adding four rebounds, an assist, a block, and a steal to his career-high point total.
 
Joining Alves with a career-high scoring output, freshman guard Jordan Gainey dropped 13 points against the Paladins as he tied a career-high with three makes from beyond the arc, tying for the team lead in the category.
 
Seniors, forward Bryson Mozone, and guard Dalvin White rounded out the group of double-figure scorers for the Spartans, contributing 11 points apiece. Mozone tied Gainey for the team lead in three-pointers made with three while White passed out a season-high five assists and added a season-best three steals.
 
Game Information
Score: Furman 87, USC Upstate 77
Records: USC Upstate (2-4; 0-0 Big South); Furman (4-2; 0-0 SoCon)
Location: G.B. Hodge Center | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
How It Happened
First Half

• Staking out an early lead, Furman used a 23-7 run over six minutes to open the game. Alex Hunter led the Paladins with 12 of his 20 first-half points in the stretch to grow the 16-point advantage.
• Trimming the Furman advantage, Dalvin White sparked a 7-0 run for the Spartans as he drew fouls on back-to-back offensive possessions, the second coming off a fastbreak layup attempt, to score four points in the run, converting each of his attempts from the charity stripe. Upstate closed the run as Jordan Gainey buried a triple from the top of the arc on an assist from White to cut the lead to single digits.
• Upstate further cut into the Furman lead with a quick 5-0 run between the under-12 and under-8 media timeouts, starting as White found Bryson Mozone for a wing three. Ahmir Langlais finished the run with authority throwing down a dunk in transition as good ball movement off a defensive rebound led to the fastbreak chance.
• Leading to its 20-point halftime advantage, Furman closed the half on a 23-9 run over the final 10 minutes. Jalen Slawson scored 11 of his 16 first-half points to lead the Paladins down the stretch of the half.

Second Half

• Jordan Gainey opened the second half with eight straight points for the Spartans, making all three of his shot attempts, including two of his three three-point makes in the game, draining both attempts from the top of the arc.
• Using a 7-0 run that spanned the under-12 timeout, the Paladins expanded their lead to 25 points, the game's largest lead.
• Scoring seven of his team's 14 points in a six-minute stretch before the under-4 media, Nick Alves converted all three of his shot attempts, drew two fouls, and added a block and assist to help Upstate set itself up for its longest run of the game to spur its comeback attempt.
• Over the final four minutes of the game, Upstate fabricated a 10-0 scoring run—its longest of the game—with four Spartans scoring in the stretch. In the run, the Spartans held Furman to just two shot attempts and forced four turnovers, leading to six Upstate points off turnovers.

 
Notable

• Shooting 7-of-8 from the floor, Nick Alves notched his first double-figure scoring game in an Upstate uniform as he finished with 16 points Saturday afternoon. His seven made field goals against Furman, eclipsed his previous high of three made field goals against St. Andrews, leading to seven points against the Knights—his previous career-high scoring total.
• Dropping each of his 16 points in the second half, Alves joins teammate Ahmir Langlais—14 points in the second half versus South Carolina State—in securing a career-high point total in a second half.
• Scoring 45 points in the second half against Furman, Upstate has scored 45 or more points in the second half in back-to-back games with Saturday's game marking the team's second-highest scoring second half of the season.
• After not seeing a double-figure scorer at East Tennessee State, the Spartans have had four or more double-figure scorers in back-to-back games, getting four such scorers against Furman.
• Led by 16 points from Alves and 11 points from Dalvin White, Upstate's bench outscored Furman 40-12 Saturday. The Spartan's 40 bench points are the second-most scored by the team this season.
• Seeing 40 of its points scored in the paint against Furman, Upstate's 40 paint points are tied for the most scored by the team in a game this season.

 
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