RADFROD, Va. – USC Upstate sophomore guard Tommy Bruner (Columbia, S.C.) took the inbounds pass and launched the half-court heave as time expired, as the Spartan bench exploded in celebration the officials waved off the final basket giving Radford a 63-61 win inside the Demon Center on Thursday night.
 
Despite having not played in nearly three weeks due to COVID concerns within the program, USC Upstate (3-12, 3-6 BSC) opened up the game on a 5-0 run. Radford (12-7, 11-2 BSC) quickly countered with a 5-0 run of their own before the Spartans took a 10-7 lead going into the first media timeout of the game.
 
Over the next several minutes of game time both sides struggled to score points against the other team. With 4:29 to play in the opening period Bruner hit a three-pointer to the tie game at 22, seconds later Shaquan Jules slammed the ball through the hope to give Radford a 24-22 lead. At the 2:40 mark of the first half, Miles Jones made another dunk to give the Highlanders a 26-23 advantage.
 
Dalvin White (Norcross, Ga.) and Everette Hammond (Silver Springs, Md.) made back-to-back three-pointers and gave USC Upstate a 29-26 lead with just 52 seconds to go in the half. Lewis Djonkam made a layup to pull within a point of the Spartans at the half.
 
Coming out of the halftime break, Radford came out swinging with a 7-0 run against the Spartans. USC Upstate coach Stacey Palmore was forced to take an early timeout to stop the run. The timeout appeared to work as Jatayveous Watson scored on a layup in the paint to end the run. Moments later White went on a personal 6-0 run with three consecutive floaters and the Spartans trailed 43-37 with 14:01 to play in the game.
 
A Djonkam dunk gave Radford a 52-42 advantage with 11:05 to play in the contest, but that did not stop the Spartans as they slowly chipped away at the lead. With just 8:24 to play in the second half, Bruner hit a three-pointer capping off a 12-2 Spartan run. Once again, the Radford offense began to build up their lead and the Highlanders held a 62-56 advantage with just 2:39 to play.
 
White came up with a crucial three-pointer for the Spartans and on the next possession Bruner scored in the paint bringing Upstate within a point of the Highlanders. With four seconds to go in the game, Xavier Lipscomb hit his second free throw giving Radford a 63-61 lead. Bruner then took the inbounds pass and drove just past the mid-court stripe, and hoisted a miracle shot that went in and gave the Spartans what appeared to be the win. After the officials reviewed the play, it was found that Bruner did not get the shot off in time.
 
The Spartan three-point defense was on display tonight as Radford made just one three-pointer the entire night. Bruner finished the night with 14-points and a team best 5-assists, White finished with 14-points. Hammond finished third on the team with 9-points, and Nevin Zink (Newtown, Conn.) ended the evening with 7-points and a team best 6-rebounds.
 
Djonkam led the Highlanders with 14-points on the evening, Dravon Mangum and Jules each added 13-points in the win. Chryee Walker ended the night with a 12-point, 13-rebound effort for Radford.   
 
UP next for the Spartans
The Spartans are back at Radford tomorrow night at 6:00 p.m.

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