Monday's MatchUP
March 21, 2022 | 8 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (15-16; 10-6 Big South) at South Alabama (20-11; 9-7 Sun Belt)
Mitchell Center | Mobile, Ala.
 
TV: ESPN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
 
Series History
USC Upstate and South Alabama will be meeting for the first time in the Spartans' Division I era (2007-pres.) when the two teams meet Monday night in The Basketball Classic presented by Eracism Second Round. The game marks the second straight for the Spartans against a first-time foe in the D1 era, following the team's first game against Appalachian State, an 80-74 victory.
 
Last Time Out
March 15, 2022: USC Upstate 80; Appalachian State 74
March 16, 2022: South Alabama 70; Southeastern Louisiana 68
 
Players to Watch
Upstate: Leading a quartet of 15-plus point scorers against Appalachian State, senior forward Josh Aldrich poured in a career-high 24 points for the Spartans during his first career 20-point game. Leading to his career-high, he made a career-best nine field goals on 14 attempts (64.3 percent) while going perfect from beyond the arc, tying a career-high with three made triples.
 
South Alabama: Scoring 17 points and pulling in 14 rebounds against Southeastern Louisiana last Wednesday, forward Javon Franklin recorded his seventh double-double of the season for the Jaguars. An Auburn transfer, he enters Monday's game leading South Alabama in field goal percentage (66.3) and rebounding (11.7) while ranking third on the team in scoring at 11.5 points per game.
 
D1 Era Postseason History
2011-12 (CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament)
First Round (Spartanburg, S.C.): March 15, 2012, vs. Kent State (W, 73-58)
Second Round (Norfolk, Va.): March 18, 2012, vs. Old Dominion (L, 65-56)
 
2013-14 (CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament)
First Round (Spartanburg, S.C.): March 19, 2014, vs. Towson (L, 63-60)
 
2014-15 (CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament)
First Round (Spartanburg, S.C.): March 17, 2015, vs. James Madison (W, 73-72)
Second Round (Spartanburg, S.C.): March 21, 2015, vs. UT Martin (L, 60-49)
 
2016-17 (CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament)
First Round (Spartanburg, S.C.): March 16, 2017, vs. Furman (L, 79-57)
 
2021-22 (The Basketball Classic presented by Eracism)
First Round (Boone, N.C.): March 15, 2022, vs. Appalachian State (W, 80-74)
 
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