SPARTANBURG, S.C. – With the New Year brings a new season for USC Upstate men's basketball as non-conference play concluded last Saturday and Big South play is upon the program. The Spartans open league play on the road for the first time since 2019-20 as it travels to face regional rival UNC Asheville in the first basketball meeting of the Ingles I-26 Rivalry Series on Wednesday evening.
 
Wednesday's Matchup
Jan. 3, 2023 | 6:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (5-8; 0-0 Big South) at UNC Asheville (8-7; 0-0 Big South)
Kimmel Arena | Asheville, N.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: Catch head coach Dave Dickerson weekly on Fox Sports Spartanburg every Tuesday at 4:20 p.m. ET
 
How They Stack Up
Records: USC Upstate (5-8; 0-0 Big South); UNC Asheville (8-7; 0-0 Big South)
Series: UNC Asheville leads 10-5
Last Five Meetings: March 4, 2023 (AVL 66; UPST 62); Feb. 4, 2023 (UPST 76; AVL 70); Jan. 21, 2023 (AVL 65; UPST 58); Feb. 12, 2022 (AVL 83; UPST 56); Jan. 15, 2022 (UPST 76; AVL 73)
 
Players to Watch
USC Upstate: Shooting 63.6 percent from the field and behind career-highs for made field goals (seven) and made free throws (six), sophomore forward Jordyn Surratt secured his first career double-figure scoring game, leading all scorers against Coker with 20 points. He also finished the game with seven rebounds—one off his career-high—and a career-best four assists, helping the Spartans to a Division I era (2007-pres.) single-game record field goal percentage. On the season, he averages 5.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while adding 15 assists, seven blocks, and six steals.
 
UNC Asheville: Posting a field goal percentage of 48.4 percent and a three-point field goal percentage of 35.1 percent, fifth year senior forward Drew Pember enters Big South play leading the league in scoring, averaging 18.7 points per game. He's scored in double-figures in 13 of 14 games this season, exceeding his season scoring average on seven occasions. He also enters Wednesday's game ranked fourth in the NCAA in free throw attempts, getting to the line 114 times this season or an average of 8.14 times per game.
 
Last Time Out
December 29, 2023: UAB 90; USC Upstate 85
December 30, 2023: USC Upstate 96; Coker 76
 
Up Next for the Spartans
Continuing Big South play and heading home for the first time during conference play, Upstate hosts Winthrop in its home conference opener for the second straight season. The Spartans and Eagles tangle Saturday with tip-off set for 4 p.m. ET.
 
Support the Spartans
USC Upstate returns to the G.B. Hodge Center on Saturday, Jan. 6 to take on Winthrop at 4 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.
 
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