Wednesday's MatchUP
December 1, 2021 | 6:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (2-4; 0-0 Big South) vs. North Carolina Central (2-5; 0-0 MEAC)
G.B. Hodge Center | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
TV: ESPN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
 
Series History
Wednesday's meeting between Upstate and North Carolina Central marks the second meeting between the two programs in the Spartans' Division I era (2007-pres.). The Spartans and Eagles met on November 11, 2019, in Durham, N.C. as part of the 2019 Global Sports Shootout with North Carolina Central winning 73-64.
 
Last Time Out
November 27, 2021: Furman 87; USC Upstate 77
November 29, 2021: Gardner-Webb 83; North Carolina Central 58
 
Players to Watch
Upstate: Averaging 11.5 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 50.0 percent from the field and 55.6 percent from three, freshman guard Jordan Gainey garnered Big South Freshman of the Week honors. He scored in double-figures against South Carolina State and Furman, posting a career-high 13 points against the Paladins. Gainey also joins Tommy Bruner (2019-20) as the only player in program history to earn multiple Big South weekly awards.
 
NCCU: After leading North Carolina Central with a team-high nine points Monday at Gardner-Webb, guard Randy Miller Jr. leads the Eagles with an 11.7 point per game scoring average. His nine points against the Runnin' Bulldogs snapped a streak of four consecutive games in double-figures, but Miller enters Wednesday's game as the lone Eagle averaging double-figures.
 
UP Next for the Spartans
Following Wednesday's game, Upstate concludes its longest homestand of the season Saturday as it hosts Western Carolina. The Spartans and Catamounts meet at the Hodge for a 6 p.m. ET tip-off with the game also airing on ESPN+.
 
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