SPARTANBURG, S.C. – For the first time since the 2007-08 men's basketball season the USC Upstate men's basketball team was victorious over Gardner-Webb with a 77-69 win on Monday night inside the G.B. Hodge Center.
 
"Always good to get a win," USC Upstate coach Stacey Palmore said. "We had some really good contributions from guy's tonight and they stepped up and made plays. Gardner-Webb is a very good team and they've kind of had our number since we've been here."
 
The Spartans won the opening tip but Gardner-Webb (8-12, 6-8 BSC) opened the game on a 3-0 run. USC Upstate (4-13, 4-7 BSC) countered with a quick 4-0 spurt, giving them the lead going into the first media timeout of the half. Coming out of the timeout Bryson Mozone (North Augusta, S.C.) hit a three-pointer and Khydarius Smith (Fort Mill, S.C.) capped off the Spartans 9-0 run with a pair of free throws.
 
Jordan Sears and Jaheam Cornwall made back-to-back three-pointers to help the Runnin' Bulldogs tie the game at 9-9. However, the Spartan offense once again took the momentum of the game and went on a quick 7-1 run with 10:19 to play in the opening half.
 
After back-to-back baskets by Tommy Bruner (Columbia, S.C.) and Everette Hammond (Silver Springs, Md.) the Spartans held a 25-15 advantage with just 5:06 to play in the half. The Runnin' Bulldogs once again made a run as Cornwall scored six unanswered coming out of the media timeout. Going down the final stretch of the opening half, Cornwall scored the final four points, as the Spartans held a 30-28 advantage going into the halftime break.
 
Cornwall led all scorers with 15-points in the opening half of play. Bruner and Mozone each scored 9-points in the opening frame to lead the Spartan offense in the first half.
 
 Coming out of the halftime break, the Runnin' Bulldogs once again scored the first points of the period. USC Upstate then went on a 9-2 run, capped off by a Dalvin White (Norcross, Ga.) three-pointer. With just 10:44 to play in the game D'Maurian Williams converted on a layup attempt, putting Gardner-Webb within a pair of the Spartans at 45-43.
 
Cartier Jernigan (Charlotte, N.C.) made a three-pointer and then stole the ball from Sears on the next possession. Jernigan tossed the ball ahead to Hammond who found Jatayveous Watson (Newnan, Ga.) for the fast break slam. A few moments later Hammond stole the ball from Sears and found Smith for a fast break dunk. Jernigan then stole the ball for a fourth time and scored on a fast break layup, prompting Gardner-Webb to take a timeout down 56-48, with 8:15 to go in the game.
 
With just 1:04 remaining in the game Kareem Reid made a pair of free throws to make it a six-point contest. The Spartans nailed their free throws down the stretch to secure the victory over the Runnin' Bulldogs.
A trio of Spartans ended the night in double-figures, with Bruner leading the way with 19-points, Nevin Zink (Newtown, Conn.) finished with 12-points and Hammond contributed 11-points in the win. Zink and Smith each ended with a team high 5-rebounds, while Hammond and White each contributed 4-assists. Jernigan finished two off his career high with four steals on the night.
 
Gardner-Webb had four players end the night in double-figures, Cornwall and Williams each contributed 17-points. Sears added 12-points and Reid scored 10-points in the losing effort.
 
UP next for the Spartans
The Spartans will travel to Campbell this Thursday and Friday evening, tip-off is slated for 7:00 p.m. for both games.

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