SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Following the team's first bye of the Big South Conference slate, USC Upstate men's basketball returns to action and the road Saturday as it treks to the Lowcountry for a meeting with Charleston Southern as the Spartans look to continue their strong stretch against the Buccaneers, having won five of the past six meetings between the clubs.
 
Saturday's Matchup
Jan. 13, 2023 | 2:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (5-10; 0-2 Big South) at Charleston Southern (5-11; 1-2 Big South)
Buccaneer Fieldhouse | Charleston, S.C.
 
TV: ESPN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
Radio: Fox Sports Spartanburg 98.3 FM/1400 AM | Also available via the Fox Sports Spartanburg or TuneIn App
Weekly Coaches Interview: Mondays at 4:15 p.m. live from Sugar-n-Spice (212 S. Pine St., Spartanburg) with Coach Dick Cox; Tuesdays at 4:20 p.m. with the voice of Spartans, Ryan Clary, on Fox Sports Spartanburg 98.3 FM
 
How They Stack Up
Records: USC Upstate (5-10; 0-2 Big South); Charleston Southern (5-11; 1-2 Big South)
Series: Series Tied 6-6
Last Five Meetings: Feb. 8, 2023 (UPST 77; CHSO 60); Dec. 31, 2022 (CHSO 90; UPST 85); March 4, 2022 (UPST 72; CHSO 62); Feb. 19, 2022 (UPST 78; CHSO 73 [OT]); Jan. 22, 2022 (UPST 70; CHSO 57)
 
Players to Watch
USC Upstate: With 14 points and 11 rebounds against Winthrop, redshirt senior forward Ahmir Langlais tallied his third double-double of the season as he's registered each of the last four double-doubles by a Spartan dating back to the 2022-23 season. With his latest double-double, he is the first Spartan since Nevin Zink in 2020-21 to record three double-doubles in a season. He enters Saturday's game averaging a near double-double in Big South play, averaging 9.0 points and 8.0 boards in league games.
 
Charleston Southern: Becoming the first Buccaneer to eclipse 30 points since the 2020-21 season, redshirt sophomore guard RJ Johnson led all scorers with 31 points in Charleston Southern's win at Gardner-Webb. The game was his 13^th double-figure scoring game of the year, his sixth scoring 20 or more points—and third scoring 25 or more markers. He heads into Saturday's tilt leading the Buccaneers in scoring at 16.9 points per game, upping that average to 18.3 points per contest in conference play.
 
Last Time Out
January 6, 2024: Winthrop 82; USC Upstate 82 [OT]
January 10, 2024: Charleston Southern 86; Gardner-Webb 74
 
Up Next for the Spartans
Upholding a streak of alternating home and road contests to begin Big South play, Upstate returns home next Wednesday for a tilt with Longwood. The Spartans and Lancers tip-off from the G.B. Hodge Center at 7 p.m. ET.
 
Support the Spartans
USC Upstate returns to the G.B. Hodge Center on Wednesday, Jan. 17 to take on Longwood at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets for all USC Upstate men's and women's basketball games are on sale now with tickets beginning at just $8! To order log into upstatespartans.com/tickets.
 
Connect with the Spartans 
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