Hercules Tires Big South Men's Basketball Championship
March 3, 2023 | 2:00 p.m. ET
No. 4 USC Upstate (15-14; 10-8 Big South) vs. No. 5 Gardner-Webb (15-15; 10-8 Big South)
Bojangles Coliseum | Charlotte, N.C.
 
Tickets: Click Here to Order
TV: ESPN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
 
Series History
After defeating Gardner-Webb in the regular season finale on Feb.25 to claim the No. 4 seed in the Hercules Tires Big South Men's Basketball Championship for the second straight season, Upstate and Gardner-Webb meet again Friday. The Spartans and Runnin' Bulldogs split the two meetings during the regular season, each winning on their home floor as the Gardner-Webb leads the series in the Spartan's Division I era (2007-pres.) 8-5, however, the Spartans have won three of the past four meetings.
 
Last Time Out
February 25, 2023: USC Upstate 75; Gardner-Webb 69
February 25, 2023: USC Upstate 75; Gardner-Webb 69
 
Players to Watch
Upstate: With the annual Big South Postseason Awards and All-Conference teams announced Tuesday, four Spartans garnered All-Big South selections. Sophomore guard Jordan Gainey became the first player in program history to earn First Team All-Big South selection after leading the Big South in steals (59) and ranking fifth in scoring (15.0 ppg). Freshmen, guard Justin Bailey and forward Jordyn Surratt earned spots on the All-Freshman team as Upstate was the lone program with multiple members of the squad. Rounding out the All-Conference nods, senior guard Thomas Sheida earned a place on the All-Academic Team.
 
Gardner-Webb: The Runnin' Bulldogs saw two players garner All-Conference selection as guard DQ Nicholas and forward Kareem Reid—Gardner-Webb's leading and third-leading scorers—earned Second Team and Honorable Mention All-Big South honors. Forward Ademide Badmus also took home All-Conference honors, earning an All-Academic Team selection.
 
Hercules Tires Big South Men's Basketball Championship Schedule
First Round (Wednesday, March 1, 2023)
Game One: No. 9 Charleston Southern 72; No. 8 High Point 70
Game Two: No. 7 Campbell 68; No. 10 Presbyterian 63
 
Quarterfinals (Friday, March 3, 2023)
Game Three: No. 1 UNC Asheville vs. No. 9 Charleston Southern; 12:00 p.m.
Game Four: No. 4 USC Upstate vs. No. 5 Gardner-Webb; 2:00 p.m.
Game Five: No. 2 Longwood vs. No. 7 Campbell; 6:00 p.m.
Game Six: No. 3 Radford vs. No. 6 Winthrop; 8:00 p.m.
 
Semifinals (Saturday, March 4, 2023)
Game Seven: Game Three Winner vs. Game Four Winner; 12:00 p.m.
Game Eight: Game Five Winner vs. Game Six Winner; 2:00 p.m.
 
Championship (Sunday, March 5, 2023)
Game Nine: Game Seven Winner vs. Game Eight Winner; 1:00 p.m.
 
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