Game Information
February 4, 2023 | 4:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (9-13; 4-7 Big South) vs. UNC Asheville (18-6; 10-1 Big South)
G.B. Hodge Center | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
Tickets: Click Here to Order
Promotions: 80's Game and Hall of Fame Recognition | Help welcome the newest members of our Athletics Hall of Fame as the 1981-82 men's basketball national championship team, Andrew Hyslop, Tee'Ara Copney, and Bill English are inducted in the Class of 2023. The game will feature 80s music and trivia throughout and also features a throwback Rifles' Pennant giveaway.
TV: Ingles Nexstar Game of the Week | ESPN+ or WYCW/WWCW/WMYT
 
Series History
Wrapping up the regular season series in a regional rivalry, USC Upstate and UNC Asheville meet for the 14^th time in the Spartans' Division I era (2007-pres.). The Bulldogs enter Saturday's meeting with a 9-5 series advantage and have won two straight games after taking the earlier season meeting in Asheville 64-58. However, the two teams have split each of the last two season series with home teams taking both meetings in 2019-20 and road teams winning both meetings in 2021-22—the teams did not meet in 2020-21.
 
Last Time Out
February 1, 2023: Campbell 78; USC Upstate 66
February 2, 2023: UNC Asheville 89; High Point 63
 
Players to Watch
Upstate: Scoring 15 points in the second half against Campbell, redshirt sophomore guard Trae Broadnax finished with a career-high 20 points while also setting career marks for field goals made (eight) and three-pointers made (three) as he shot 80 percent from the field and 100 percent from three. The game marked his eighth double-figure scoring game during Big South play—tied for the team lead—as he averages 11.5 points per contest in conference play. Against UNC Asheville on Jan. 21, he poured in a then-career-high 19 points.
 
Asheville: The Bulldogs' all-time leading scorer in the program's Division I era—a mark he secured versus Campbell on Jan. 28—guard Tajion Jones led Asheville with a team-high 18 points against High Point, becoming the 18^th player in Big South history to eclipse 1,800 career points. He enters Saturday's game averaging 14.3 points per game in league play, including a season-high-tying 30 points against Campbell as he's shooting 49.5 percent from the floor and 42.0 percent from three in conference games.
 
Big South Standings

1. UNC Asheville (18-6; 10-1 Big South)
2. Radford (15-9; 9-2 Big South)
3. Longwood (15-9; 7-4 Big South)
4. Gardner-Webb (12-11; 7-4 Big South)
5. Winthrop (11-13; 6-5 Big South)
6. Campbell (10-13; 5-6 Big South)
7. USC Upstate (9-13; 4-7 Big South)
8. Charleston Southern (8-14; 4-7 Big South)
9. High Point (10-13; 2-9 Big South)
10. Presbyterian (5-19; 1-10 Big South)

 
Up Next for the Spartans
Continuing a string of home games at the G.B. Hodge Center, Upstate returns home next Wednesday for another Big South rematch. The Spartans welcome in Charleston Southern with tip-off set for 7 p.m. ET.
 
Connect with the Spartans 
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics 
Twitter | @UpstateMBB | @UpstateSpartans 
Instagram | @UpstateMBB | @UpstateSpartans 
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans 
Make a difference in the lives of USC Upstate student-athletes!  Donate to the USC Upstate U Club today!