CHARLESTON, S.C. – On the road for the first time in Big South play for the team's final game of the 2022 calendar year, USC Upstate men's basketball fought for its second conference victory of the season, but ultimately couldn't overcome a strong close to the first half by Charleston Southern in a 90-85 setback Saturday afternoon.
 
For the second time in as many league games, four Spartans scored in double-figures led by sophomore guard Jordan Gainey who notched his fifth 20-point effort of the season with a game-high 23 points. Joining Gainey in double-figures were redshirt sophomore guard Trae Broadnax, freshman guard Justin Bailey, and senior forward Khydarius Smith who dropped 16, 16, and 14 points, respectively, with Broadnax and Gainey's totals marking career-highs.
 
Defensively, Bailey led Upstate with a career-best five steals, becoming the third Spartan with five or more steals in a game, joining Gainey (five vs. South Carolina State) and Broadnax (six vs. Kennesaw State). Smith tallied three blocks for the Spartans and has blocked six shots during Big South play, leading Upstate in the category.
 
Game Information
Score: Charleston Southern 90; USC Upstate 85
Records: USC Upstate (6-7; 1-1 Big South); Charleston Southern (5-8; 1-1 Big South)
Location: Buccaneer Fieldhouse | Charleston, S.C.
 
How It Happened
First Half

• Despite seeing Charleston Southern score first, doing so from the free throw line, it was Upstate who took the momentum in the first quarter of the first half by carrying a 12-6 lead into the first media timeout before stretching the lead to 14-6. A pair of scoring runs, 5-0 and 7-0, helped the Spartans wrestle momentum in the early going.
• Fighting back and swinging the game's momentum, the Buccaneers led a 15-5 scoring stretch, including a 12-3 run, to take the lead heading into the under-12 media timeout. After seeing the Spartans lead stretch to eight, Charleston Southern hit back-to-back threes before also using another 6-0 run in the stretch.
• Heading into the final media timeout of the half, both teams went blow-for-blow with one another as the lead changed twice and tied three times. The Spartans edged the Buccaneers 13-11 in the stretch with Justin Bailey leading Upstate with five points in the run.
• Closing the half, Charleston Southern outscored Upstate 10-6 to carry a four-point advantage into the locker room. The Buccaneers had a pair of 5-0 scoring runs over the final four minutes of the half with both being halted by a Bailey three-pointer as he totaled 11 points in the first half.

 
Second Half

• Beginning to build its lead, Charleston Southern twice pushed the advantage to eight, outscoring Upstate 6-2 to open the half. The Spartans, however, cut into the deficit with an 8-2 scoring run, including a 6-0 run, heading into the first media of the half.
• Pushing the lead to double-figures for the first time, the Buccaneers fabricated their largest scoring run of the game with a 10-0 stretch to get the lead to 12 points. In the run, Charleston Southern held Upstate to 0-6 from the field.
• Upstate looked to trim the lead heading towards the under-eight media timeout, but Charleston Southern hung with the Spartans, outscoring Upstate 17-14 over a five-minute stretch spanning the under-eight media. The Buccaneers saw their lead grow to as large as 15 in the stretch.
• Plotting a comeback attempt, Upstate outscored Charleston Southern 18-7 heading into the final 45 seconds of the game, cutting the lead to four with 47 seconds to play. Putting the final touches on the game, both teams combined to shoot 11 free throws in the final 47 seconds with the teams going perfect from the line.

 
Notable

• Despite seeing four Spartans score in double-figures for the second straight game to open Big South play, Saturday's game versus Charleston Southern marked the first time this season (seven games) that the Spartans have fallen while seeing four or more double-figure scorers.
• With Justin Bailey swiping five steals Saturday afternoon, he secured Upstate's third game this season with a player totaling five or more steals. He joins Jordan Gainey (five vs. South Carolina State) and Trae Broadnax (six vs. Kennesaw State) with such a game.
• With his 23 points against the Buccaneers, Gainey secured his fifth 20-plus point scoring effort of the season and 10^th of his career (two coming against Charleston Southern). Joining him in double-figures, Broadnax and Bailey (16 points apiece) posted career-best scoring totals with Khydarius Smith (14 points) posting a season-high.
• With Floyd Rideau Jr.'s first-half three, Upstate improved its streak of consecutive games with a made three-pointer to at least 633 games, dating back through the 2002-03 season. The streak also includes all 486 games for the program at the NCAA Division I level (2007-pres.).

 
UP Next for the Spartans
Closing 2022 on the road, Upstate opens 2023 with another road trip, heading to the Commonwealth of Virginia for a meeting with Radford. The Spartans and Highlanders open the New Year with a 7 p.m. ET tip.
 
JOIN UP
Make a difference in the lives of USC Upstate student-athletes!  Donate to the USC Upstate U Club today!

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.
 
Keep UP with the Spartans
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics
Twitter: @UpstateMBB
Instagram: @upstatespartans
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans