CLINTON, S.C. – Despite shooting 52 percent for the game, the USC Upstate men's basketball team fell 75-65 on Monday evening in the Ross E. Templeton Center.
 
The Spartans forced a turnover on the opening possession of the game for Presbyterian College and Everette Hammond (Silver Springs, Md.) scored the first points of the game at the 19:26 mark of the period. However, the Bluehose then went on a 12-2 run and held the early momentum against the Spartans.
 
Khydarius Smith (Fort Mill, S.C.) and Nevin Zink (Newtown, Conn.) then bullied their way down low and scored on the next three possessions for the Spartans. Trailing 20-10 with 11:46 to play in the half, Smith slammed the ball through the hoop which jump started an 11-6 run by the Spartans offense. A Jatayveous Watson (Newnan, Ga.) ended the run with a slam of his own as USC Upstate trailed 26-23 with 5:45 to play in the half.
 
The two teams stayed close going into the halftime break, with Presbyterian leading 38-33 at the intermission. Zink led the Spartans with 10-points, Smith added 7-points and Hammond contributed 7-points.
 
The Spartans came out inspired in the second half as they scored on their first two possessions and forced the Bluehose to call an early timeout. With 16:42 to play in the half, Presbyterian once again found themselves ahead 48-38. The Spartans did not seem to be concerned with the lead as the offense went on a 12-2 run and erased the deficit in a matter of minutes.
 
Freshman Quentin Hodge (Sumter, S.C.) stole the ball at midcourt and found Hammond for the fast break layup with 11:39 to play in the half. Hammond's layup gave Upstate a 52-50 advantage and what seemed to be the momentum shifting play of the game.  
 
Moments later Presbyterian was back up by eight-points and the Spartans were chasing the rest of the game. On several occasions, the Spartans were within five-points of the Bluehose, but free throws down the stretch cemented the Presbyterian win.
 
Hammond led the Spartans with 19-points, Zink contributed 15-points and Smith added 10-points in the loss to Presbyterian.  
 
UP next for the Spartans
The Spartans will stay on the road with a trip back to Presbyterian on Thursday evening.

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