CLINTON, S.C. – Heading into the final stretch of the regular season with each game's result determining the team's seeding in the Big South Men's Basketball Championship, USC Upstate men's basketball showed resolve as it fought back to earn a 57-55 comeback victory at Presbyterian Wednesday night.
 
Holding the lead for just one minute and 36 seconds, the Spartans held the advantage at the most opportune time as they battled back to erase a 12-point second-half deficit to earn the team's third victory when trailing at half this season—two of the three coming against Presbyterian. Upstate held the Blue Hose without a field goal over the final five minutes of the game, ending the game on a 7-0 run to clinch the victory.
 
In the win, the free throw line proved a key factor as Upstate finished the game shooting 80 percent from the line, making 16-of-20 attempts, including the pair from redshirt sophomore Trae Broadnax with 10 seconds to play. In comparison, the Blue Hose shot 56 percent from the line (10-of-18) and saw the front end of a one-and-one fall by the wayside with two minutes to play that sparked the Spartans' game-ending run.
 
Game Information
Score: USC Upstate 57; Presbyterian 55
Records: USC Upstate (14-14; 9-8 Big South); Presbyterian (5-24; 1-16 Big South)
Location: Templeton Center | Clinton, S.C.
 
How It Happened
First Half

• Taking the opening tap, Upstate scored the first points of the game as Jordyn Surratt streaked down the lane for a dunk. Presbyterian, however, took control of the momentum, outscoring Upstate 8-1 into the first media to build its lead.
• Fighting their way back to cut into the deficit, Upstate crafted its first extended scoring run of the game heading into the under-12 media timeout with a 4-0 scoring stretch. Nick Alves started the run with a driving layup before Khydarius Smith added a finger roll heading into the stoppage.
• As the Spartans had closed the gap to three, the Blue Hose build back their lead, going on a 6-0 scoring run to force Upstate into taking a timeout. Presbyterian added two more points to their run as they held the Spartans without a field goal for nearly seven minutes.
• Trae Broadnax snapped the extended scoring drought for the Spartans as he knocked down a three from the right wing to start a 12-9 scoring stretch to close the half. Closing the half, Justin Bailey scored five of Upstate's 12 points with Smith adding four points as both players closed the half with six points apiece.

 
Second Half

• Adding to its made three to close the first half, the Blue Hose added the first three points of the half for a 6-0 scoring run to span the half. The Spartans answered with a 10-2 scoring stretch into the media with a pair of free throws out of the stoppage to push it to 12-2 and cut the Presbyterian lead to one.
• Heading into the under-eight media timeout, Presbyterian was able to withstand Upstate and push the advantage back to double digits, outscoring the Spartans 19-10 to hold a 10-point lead with eight minutes to play. Leading the Spartans in the stretch, Smith and Broadnax each scored four points apiece.
• Setting up the final four minutes of the game, Upstate outscored the Blue Hose 9-4 between the under-eight and under-four media timeouts, cutting the lead to five. Over the final five minutes of the game, the Spartans held Presbyterian without a field goal and held the Blue Hose scoreless over the final two minutes.
• After earning the ball back as Mysta Goodloe took a charge at half court, Jordan Gainey nailed a three from the top of the key to tie the game at 55. Getting the ball back following a big defensive rebound from Broadnax with 30 seconds to play, Upstate took a timeout with 26 seconds to play to set up the Spartans' final opportunity. Driving to the basket with 10 seconds to play, Broadnax drew the foul and knocked down both free throws to secure the win.

 
Notable

• On the glass, Upstate pulled in 41 rebounds Wednesday night in its win over Presbyterian with Khydarius Smith, Trae Broadnax, and Mysta Goodloe each pulling in career-high totals, corralling 10, nine, and nine boards, respectively. The total marks the most for the team against a Division I opponent this season, besting the team's 40 rebounds at UNC Asheville on Jan. 21.
• Scoring the final two points with a pair of clutch free throws, Broadnax scored 11 points for the Spartans, scoring in double-figures for the seventh straight game. The game also stands as his team-best 14^th double-figure scoring game in Big South play while he was joined in double-figures Wednesday by Justin Bailey (14) and Jordan Gainey (10).
• Erasing a 12-point deficit in the second half after trailing at the break, Wednesday's victory marks the third for the Spartans when down at halftime this season. Coincidentally, the win marks the second win when trailing at the half against Presbyterian after erasing a 13-point second-half deficit on Jan. 18.

 
Up Next for the Spartans
Wrapping up the regular season, Upstate returns home to the G.B. Hodge Center for the regular season finale against Gardner-Webb. The Spartans and Runnin' Bulldogs tip off at 2 p.m. ET Saturday with the game also marking the Spartans' Senior Day.
 
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