Saturday's MatchUP
December 3, 2022 | 5:30 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (3-4; 0-0 Big South) at Western Carolina (4-4; 0-0 SoCon)
Ramsey Center | Cullowhee, N.C.
 
TV: ESPN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
 
Series History
After meeting at the G.B. Hodge Center last season, USC Upstate and Western Carolina are meeting for the third time in the Spartans' Division I era (2007-pres.) and for the first time in Cullowhee, N.C. The Spartans and Catamounts have split the two previous meetings with the Catamounts winning last season's meeting and the Spartans taking the first meeting in 2013, at the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament in Kent, Ohio.
 
Last Time Out
November 30, 2022: USC Upstate 93; Columbia International 59
November 30, 2022: Gardner-Webb 71; Western Carolina 55
 
Players to Watch
Upstate: Leading a quintet of double-figure scorers against Columbia International with a career-high 26 points, sophomore guard Jordan Gainey secured his seventh career 20-plus point scoring effort and second of the season. He scored 21 of his 26 points in the first half and tied a career-high with eight field goals and four three-pointers made while swiping a career-high five steals defensively. On the season, he leads Upstate in scoring at 15.9 points per game.
 
Western Carolina: Averaging 14.6 points and 8.5 rebounds per game this season, redshirt junior forward Tyzhaun Claude enters Saturday's game leading Western Carolina on the boards and ranks second in scoring (first in total points). He's scored in double-figures in all eight Catamount games this season and has posted a trio of double-doubles while pulling in five or more rebounds in all eight games. He scored a season-high 19 points in a double-double versus McNeese State and pulled in a season-high 13 rebounds in a double-double against Lindenwood.
 
UP Next for the Spartans
Following Saturday's road contest that wraps a stretch of three of four games on the road for the Spartans, Upstate takes a week break before returning to the court on Dec. 10. In its return, Upstate hosts South Carolina State at the Hodge for a 3 p.m. ET tip.
 
JOIN UP
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CHEER ON THE SPARTANS AT THE HODGE!
USC Upstate is offering a variety of ways for fans to watch Upstate Basketball this season! Tickets can be purchased through ticketreturn.com and options include courtside seats, season packages, two new mini-plan offerings, group packages, and individual game tickets. Click here to order your tickets.
 
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Twitter: @UpstateMBB
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