Thursday's MatchUP
February 24, 2022 | 7:01 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (12-14; 9-5 Big South) at Winthrop (19-8; 12-2 Big South)
Winthrop Coliseum | Rock Hill, S.C.
 
TV: ESPNU (PXP: Matt Schick; Analyst: David Padgett) | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
 
Series History
Thursday's meeting between USC Upstate and Winthrop marks the 11^th all-time meeting between the two programs in the Spartans' Division I era (2007-pres.). The Eagles have taken each meeting in a series that dates back to the 2009-10 season, including a 95-91 overtime thriller on Jan. 26, at the G.B. Hodge Center.
 
Last Time Out
February 19, 2022: USC Upstate 78; Charleston Southern 73 [OT]
February 19, 2022: Winthrop 84; UNC Asheville 79
 
Players to Watch
Upstate: Averaging 16.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting 47.8 percent from the field and 60.0 percent from three, freshman guard Jordan Gainey earned his league-leading seventh Big South Freshman of the Week accolade. He's scored 14 or more points in 13 of 14 Big South games this season, including a career-high 24 points in Upstate's first meeting with Winthrop. Gainey enters Thursday's game ranked fourth in the conference in scoring during league play, averaging 16.6 points per game.
 
Winthrop: Entering Thursday's game, forward DJ Burns, Jr. leads Winthrop in scoring, averaging 15.4 points per game on the season. Though he's only averaging 13.8 points per game during league play, he has scored in double-figures in nine games, including a 29-point outing in the Eagles' first matchup with Upstate.
 
UP Next for the Spartans
Following Thursday's ESPNU game, Upstate returns to the G.B. Hodge Center for the final time during the 2021-22 season, hosting rival Gardner-Webb. The Spartans and Runnin' Bulldogs tip-off at 4 p.m. ET with the game also representing Senior Day.
 
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