ROCK HILL, S.C. – Finding itself in the Big South's ESPNU Wildcard Series for the second time this season, USC Upstate men's basketball was unable to overcome a hot-shooting Winthrop team as the Spartans absorbed an 89-59 setback Thursday night at the Winthrop Coliseum.
Senior forward
Bryson Mozone paced the Spartans Thursday night, pouring in a team-best 14 points behind 6-of-11 shooting, including 2-of-6 from three. He added three rebounds, two steals, and a block for Upstate, complementing his scoring total.
Joining Mozone in double-figures, junior forward
Khydarius Smith tallied 13 points behind a 75.0 percent (6-of-8) shooting performance while adding four rebounds. Freshman guard
Jordan Gainey and redshirt sophomore forward
Ahmir Langlais finished just shy of double-figures, totaling eight points apiece for the Spartans.
Game Information
Score: Winthrop 89; USC Upstate 59
Records: USC Upstate (12-15; 9-6 Big South); Winthrop (20-8; 13-2 Big South)
Location: Winthrop Coliseum | Rock Hill, S.C.
How It Happened
First Half
- Opening the scoring with a jumper from Khydarius Smith, Upstate and Winthrop traded the lead in the first two minutes of the game as a Jordan Gainey three put the Spartans up early.
- Using the game's first extended scoring run, Winthrop built a four-point lead behind a 6-0 scoring advantage. The Spartans however outscored the Eagles 7-3 off the 6-0 run to tie the game at 12 with 14:01 to play in the half.
- After Winthrop regained the lead, the Eagles used an 11-0 scoring spurt to push its lead to double-digits for the first time. Overall, Winthrop outscored the Spartans 15-3 over five minutes to build the lead to 15.
- The Spartans countered down the stretch of the first half, posting a 6-0 scoring run to trim the lead back to nine. Winthrop, however, responded with an 11-2 stretch to end the quarter to carry an 18-point advantage into the half.
Second Half
- Upstate opened the half with back-to-back baskets as Smith threw down a half-opening dunk before Bryson Mozone added a fastbreak layup to cut into the Eagles' lead.
- Growing its advantage throughout the second half, Winthrop outscored Upstate 24-11 over a seven-minute stretch, holding the Spartans without consecutive field goals during the scoring streak.
- The Spartans ended the 24-11 stretch with a 7-0 run of their own to cut into the Winthrop lead. Mozone, Smith, and Jalen Breazeale fashioned the run, the longest of the game for the Spartans.
- The Eagles closed the game on a 17-7 run to grow its lead to the largest of the game, ending regulation with a 30-point advantage.
Notable
- Thursday's game marked the third all-time appearance for Upstate in the Big South's ESPNU Wildcard Series and the second appearance of the 2021-22 season.
- Behind a 6-for-8 shooting performance against Winthrop, Khydarius Smith tallied his fourth double-figure scoring game of the year with 13 points Thursday night. The game marked the 10th double-figure scoring game of his career.
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