HIGH POINT, N.C. – Heading into the final stretch of the regular season and embarking on the front end of the team's final road stretch of the season, Upstate men's basketball fell short on the road, dropping an 81-66 decision at High Point Saturday afternoon.
 
Three Spartans finished in double-figures led by senior forward Nick Alves who dropped a season-high-tying 15 points as he finished 7-of-8 from the field. Over the past three games, he's gone 15-of-16 from the floor and has secured two of his five double-figure scoring games of the season. He complimented his 15 points with two rebounds and two assists.
 
Joining Alves in double-figures were redshirt sophomore guard Trae Broadnax and senior forward Khydarius Smith who added 14 points apiece. For Broadnax, Saturday's game is his sixth consecutive game scoring 10 or more points while Smith has notched 14 points in back-to-back contests.
 
Game Information
Score: High Point 81; USC Upstate 66
Records: USC Upstate (13-14; 8-8 Big South); High Point (13-15; 5-11 Big South)
Location: Qubein Center | High Point, N.C.
 
How It Happened
First Half

• Striking first after taking the opening tip, High Point opened the game on a 7-0 scoring run over the game's first three minutes. The Panthers expanded upon the run, pushing the scoring stretch to 9-2 with the lone Spartan basket coming from Jordan Gainey.
• Spanning the under-16 media timeout, the Spartans began to work their way back and cut into the High Point lead, going on an 11-6 scoring run. In the stretch, five players recorded points for Upstate as the Spartans pulled the deficit to two.
• Growing its lead to double-figures for the first time in the game, High Point embarked on a 10-0 scoring run to push the lead to 12. Floyd Rideau Jr. broke the streak for the Spartans, starting a 9-3 scoring stretch that pulled the disadvantage back into single digits.
• Continuing to chip away, Upstate saw its second extended scoring streak in the final five minutes of the half, scoring five straight points to pull within two possessions. However, the Panthers outscored the Spartans 8-4 over the half's final three minutes to take an eight-point advantage into the locker room.

 
Second Half

• Adding to a pair of free throws to close the first half, High Point constructed its longest scoring run of the game to open the second half. The Panthers scored the first 11 points of the half to create a 13-0 scoring run with the lead growing to its largest at 19 points.
• Upstate responded to the long Panther scoring run with a 9-1 scoring stretch of its own with the Spartans holding High Point to 0-of-4 from the floor during the stretch. Nick Alves led the run for the Spartans, scoring six of the nine points.
• Following a three that busted the 9-1 scoring stretch, the Spartans outscored the Panthers 9-2 over the next four minutes to cut the lead back to single digits. Upstate held the lead under 10 points and within striking distance for nearly eight minutes heading into the final media timeout of the game.
• Closing the game and growing their advantage back to double-figures, the Panthers finished the game on a 9-2 scoring run, going 4-of-5 from the floor to end the game.

 
Notable

• Leading the Spartans with 15 points, Nick Alves tied his season-high scoring total, matching his scoring total against Columbia International on Nov. 30. The game marked Alves' fifth double-figure scoring game of the season and second over the past three games.
• Joining Alves in double-figures were Trae Broadnax and Khydarius Smith who tallied 14 points apiece. The game marked Broadnax's team-leading 13 double-figure scoring game during Big South play while marking Smith's six during league play.
• With four three-pointers Saturday, Upstate extended its streak of games with a made three to 867 games, a streak that dates back to the 1994-95 season. The streak also includes each of the Spartans' 500 games at the NCAA Division I level (2007-pres.).

 
Up Next for the Spartans
Continuing the team's final road swing of the season, Upstate faces the front half of its two-game set against regional rivals to close the season with a trip to Presbyterian. The Spartans and Blue Hose tip-off at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday.
 
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