WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Coming off its longest layoff between games during the 2021-22 season, USC Upstate men's basketball continued its trend of receiving multiple double-figures scorers, doing so for the eighth time in nine games this season, as the Spartans battled (RV) Wake Forest Saturday night.
 
Leading the way, freshman guard Jordan Gainey and junior guard Nick Alves paced Upstate with 10 points apiece as the duo combined to shoot 8-of-15 from the floor (.533) and 3-of-5 from three (.600). For Gainey, Saturday's contest marked his sixth double-figure scoring game in his first nine games while Alves's night secured his second career double-figure scoring effort.
 
Nearly joining Gainey and Alves in double-figures, sophomore guard Quentin Hodge and junior forward Jatayveous Watson each tallied season-high scoring totals. Hodge scored nine points on the evening, including going 4-of-4 from the free throw line while Watson added eight points, shooting 3-of-3 from the field.
 
Game Information
Score: (RV) Wake Forest 79, USC Upstate 53
Records: USC Upstate (2-7; 0-0 Big South); (RV) Wake Forest (9-1; 1-0 ACC)
Location: LJVM Coliseum | Winston-Salem, N.C.
 
How It Happened
First Half

• Seeing the lead change hands three times over the game's first three-and-a-half minutes, Nick Alves and Jordan Gainey changed the lead in favor of Upstate with a pair of triples in the game's opening minutes as both Spartans provided immediate answers when Wake Forest took the advantage.
• Grabbing the first multi-possession lead of the game, Wake Forest used a 7-0 run to grow its first-half lead to five (11-6) with 14 minutes remaining in the half.
• Ending the Demon Deacons' first run with a driving layup, Alves brought Wake Forest's lead down to a single possession before the hosts extended the advantage once again to eight behind a 5-0 scoring run. Gainey ended this run with his second three-pointer of the half as he and Alves combined to score Upstate's first 11 points of the half.
• Over the final three minutes of the half, Jatayveous Watson paced the Spartans' scoring efforts, scoring Upstate's final five points of the half, closing the half by scoring the final three points of the period, ending the half with a two-handed slam.

Second Half

• Opening the second half behind a 15-6 advantage over the half's first five minutes, using three scoring runs of four or more points, Wake Forest extended its lead to 19 points (44-25).
• After the two sides traded baskets, the Demon Deacons used the longest run of the game (12 points) to stretch their advantage. Adding a three-pointer to create a 15-2 scoring advantage, Wake Forest grabbed its largest lead with 9:45 remaining in the half.
• Trimming into the Wake Forest lead, Quentin Hodge led a 5-0 scoring run as he drained a three before Bryson Mozone drew a charge and Dalvin White swiped a steal in consecutive defensive possessions to set Hodge up for a trip to the line to finish his scoring run.
• Seeing White jump the passing lane a few possessions later, Hodge finished a feed in transition from his teammate to score seven consecutive points for the Spartans.
• Following the 7-3 run orchestrated by Hodge, Upstate received two additional 5-0 scoring runs—the team's longest of the game—over the final six minutes of the half. The first led by Mozone saw the senior forward rise up for a step-back jumper before draining a three in transition. The second opened as Mysta Goodloe nailed a three-pointer before Gainey knifed to the basket for a layup.

 
Notable

• Tying for the team lead with 10 points Saturday night, Jordan Gainey secured his sixth career double-figure scoring effort as he's achieved the mark in just nine career games.
• Adding 10 points against Wake Forest, Nick Alves paired with Gainey to ensure Upstate has collected multiple double-figure scorers for the eighth time in nine games to start the season.
• Coming off the bench, Quentin Hodge and Jatayveous Watson each dropped season-high scoring totals, scoring nine and eight points, respectively.

 
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