SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Looking to wrap up a first-round bye for the 2022 Big South Championships and send its seniors off in style in the groups' final home game, USC Upstate men's basketball did just that Saturday afternoon, downing rival Gardner-Webb 72-70 in a come-from-behind victory at the Hodge.
 
Not leading into the final minute-and-a-half of the game, Upstate saved its best for last, taking the lead for good with 1:15 left to play in regulation. The Spartans stayed just ahead of the Runnin' Bulldogs until the final buzzer as the Spartans made six of seven free throw attempts to ice the victory.
 
Pacing a quartet of double-figure scorers, freshman guard Jordan Gainey poured in 20 points, adding five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Seniors Bryson Mozone, Josh Aldrich, and Dalvin White each tallied double-figures on Senior Day, totaling 16, 11, and 10 points, respectively.
 
Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 72; Gardner-Webb 70
Records: USC Upstate (13-15; 10-6 Big South); Gardner-Webb (17-12; 11-5 Big South)
Location: G.B. Hodge Center | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
How It Happened
First Half

• Over the first five minutes of the game, both teams stayed neck and neck with one another as both Upstate and Gardner-Webb were trading shots early. The Runnin' Bulldogs held a slight edge thanks to a trio of three-point makes.
• Gardner-Webb fashioned the first extended scoring run of the game, a 6-0 spurt, to begin pulling ahead in the first half. Upstate answered by doubling up the Runnin' Bulldogs 6-3 to pull within six before the teams traded 5-0 scoring runs.
• Upstate began to work its way back, using its longest scoring run of the game, 7-0, to pull to within four. Gardner-Webb found a way to maintain its advantage heading into the locker room, hitting a couple of shots from deep before Bryson Mozone closed the half with a three to pull the Spartans within five.

Second Half

• Building upon the momentum of Mozone's shot heading into the locker room, the Spartans came out to open the second half on a 6-2 scoring run to pull within one. Gardner-Webb hit four consecutive free throws ahead of a 5-0 run from Mozone tied the game at 47 with 13:44 to play.
• The Runnin' Bulldogs kept things in their favor with a 9-0 scoring run, their longest of the game. The Spartans countered with a second 7-0 scoring run, staying within a possession of its competition. Gardner-Webb doubled up the Spartans 8-4 to hold the lead heading into the final four minutes of the game, leading 64-58 with 4:33 to play.
• Upstate answered with a 6-0 scoring run to tie the game a 64-all before a Gardner-Webb field goal snapped the deadlock, heading to the one-minute mark.
• Getting a big and-1 conversion with 1:15 to play, Josh Aldrich swung the momentum in the Spartans' favor. His free throw handed Upstate the lead with five additional free throws icing the victory down the stretch.

 
Notable

• Dropping a team-high 20 points, Jordan Gainey secured his 21^st double-figure scoring game of the year as the game marked his 14^th in 16 Big South games where he scored 15 or more points. The game also marked his fourth 20-plus point scoring effort as each has come during league play.
• Scoring 16, 11, and 10 points, respectively, the senior trio of Bryson Mozone, Josh Aldrich, and Dalvin White each scored in double-figures on Senior Night. With Saturday's victory, the trio became the first senior class to win double-digit Big South games in a single season.

 
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