DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - A season that re-established a foundation of success has come to a close as the USC Upstate men's basketball team fell to Indiana State in the first round of the Discount Tire College Basketball Invitational (CBI) by a score of 67-62.  

The Spartan's second postseason berth saw a back-and-forth game with five ties and four lead changes. Both teams saw significant leads shrink as the Spartans held a 19-10 lead at the 12:55 mark in the first half. The Sycamores held a 12-point lead with 8:50 to go, but the Spartans methodically chipped away until it was a 65-62 game with 3:08 to go.  

Upstate could not get the ball to fall their way for much of the game, resulting in the team shooting 38% from the floor, their fifth-lowest shooting performance of the season. While the team struggled to make shots, they did dominate when it comes to offensive rebounds and second-chance points. They ended the game maintaining a 12-5 edge on the offensive glass and a 12-3 edge on capitalizing their second chance opportunities. 

With the 2022-2023 men's basketball season officially concluded, the program will head into the offseason with momentum, carrying back-to-back conference semifinal appearances and back-to-back postseason appearances with them into the 2023-2024 season.  

Game Information 

Score: No. 1 Indiana State: 67 | No. 16 USC Upstate: 62 

Records: USC Upstate (16-16; 10-8 Big South); Indiana State (23-12; 13-7 MVC) 

Location: Ocean Center | Daytona Beach, Florida 

How It Happened 

First Half 

• Both teams came out of the gate hot from beyond the arc. The two CBI participants combined for four made 3's in a row. After the initial 6-6 tie, it was the Spartans who carried the early momentum to a 19-10 lead in the first eight minutes. Jordan Gainey and Trae Broadnax both had eight points during this opening stretch 

• The Sycamores erupted for a run of their own soon after, eventually capitalizing on an Upstate turnover to take a 21-20 lead. Seny N'Diyae helped slow the bleeding for the Spartans and even tied the game at 24 apiece, but Indiana State kept up the pressure and found their shot, eventually leading 33-28 with 2:46 to go. 

• The final 2:46 stretch saw the two teams take a combined eight shots, not including a nearly highlight worthy half-court heave from the Sycamores to end the half. The Spartans were three of four shooting during the final minutes to cut the deficit to one. Indiana State heaved a shot from half-court as the clock was ticking down and originally was credited with the basket. Upon further review, the officials overturned the call and a hotly contested half closed 35-34.  

Second Half 

• In similar fashion to the first half, Upstate came out swinging to start the second. The team rattled off seven quick points, with Justin Bailey accounting for five of those, to take a 41-36 lead. Indiana State responded with a three-pointer to make it a two-point game and both teams went back and forth yet again. After a Khydarius Smith layup, it was the Spartans who held a 45-43 lead with 15:13 to play. 

• However, the Sycamores exploded out to a 63-51 lead with 8:50 left after a 20-6 run. Mysta Goodloe accounted for four of the Spartans points during the stretch, but in the blink of an eye the Spartans had their backs against the wall. 

• The Spartans dug deep during the final stretch of the game and chipped away at the deficit. An 11-2 run of their own suddenly brought the game within reach with after a Trae Broadnax layup made it a 65-62 game with 3:08 to go. Neither team made a shot in the final three minutes, going a combined 0-8 from the floor. Indiana State extended their lead to five with seven seconds left in the game thanks to two free throws, and the first game of the CBI ended 67-62, with the Spartans on the short end of the score.  
   

Notables 

• The USC Upstate Spartans finish the 2022-2023 season with a 16-16 record. The Spartans will have to wait another year for their first positive record, but the 16 wins is the most since the 2016-2017 season. The appearance in the CBI is the second postseason appearance in a row for the program.  

• Jordan Gainey and Trae Broadnax were the only Spartans to score in double figures. Gainey led the team with 18 while Broadnax contributed 12. They will finish the year as the two Spartans with the most double-figure games with 25 and 24 respectively. 

• Upstate played an efficient game in terms of possession. Their seven turnovers versus the Sycamores are the second fewest in a game this year, behind only the five-turnover game against UNC Asheville in the Big South Tournament.  

• Trae Broadnax had his sixth game of the season with eight or more rebounds. He ends the season with the team lead in total rebounds after collecting 140 combined.  
   

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