BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – In a series that has featured several games coming down to the wire, including the most recent meeting between the Spartans and Runnin' Bulldogs at last season's Big South Men's Basketball Championship, Saturday's matchup proved no different for USC Upstate men's basketball things between it and Gardner-Webb were decided in the final seconds in a 75-70 setback.
 
Facing a deficit that grew as large as 12 in favor of the hosts, Upstate continued its resilience as it battled back from multiple double-figure disadvantages to put itself in a position to win the game in the final seconds. However, the Runnin' Bulldogs prevailed at the buzzer as a steal and a fastbreak layup pushed the final advantage to five.
 
Leading the Spartans, sophomore guard Justin Bailey returned to double-figures as he dropped 16 markers, scoring 11 of his 16 points in the second half as Upstate battled back from a halftime deficit while also tying a career-high with a team-best six rebounds. Joining Bailey in double-figures, graduate student guard Nick Alves notched 11 points—all in the second half—for his sixth double-figure scoring game during Big South play.
 
Game Information
Score: Gardner-Webb 75; USC Upstate 70
Records: USC Upstate (6-14; 1-6 Big South); Gardner-Webb (10-12; 5-2 Big South)
Location: Paul Porter Arena | Boiling Springs, N.C.
 
How It Happened
First Half

• Taking the opening tap, Gardner-Webb jumped out to an early lead with back-to-back layups to build an early 4-0 advantage before Eduardo Placer knocked down a three from the top of the key to put Upstate on the board. Both teams answered one another with dueling layups before the Runnin' Bulldogs crafted the game's longest scoring run—11 points—to grow a lead that would stay larger than four points for the remainder of the half.
• Snapping the game's longest scoring stretch, Jorge Ochoa scored the next five points of the contest, draining a three before hitting a reverse layup to bring the deficit back to single digits. The Spartans brought the Gardner-Webb lead back to four with 8:45 to play as another Ochoa three capped an 11-3 Upstate scoring stretch.
• Beginning with eight minutes to play in the first half, the Runnin' Bulldogs fashioned another lengthy scoring run to grow the advantage back to 10, scoring six consecutive points before an and-one conversion from Justin Bailey ended the run. Gardner-Webb, however, countered with another four points consecutively to craft a 10-3 scoring run.
• Clawing back from another double-digit deficit, Upstate strung together a 5-0 scoring stretch as the game reached a point where both teams answered one another with scoring runs. Gardner-Webb responded with a second 6-0 scoring run to push the lead to 10-plus points for the fourth time in the half, but Jalen Brezeale splashed a trey with 30 seconds remaining to cut the lead to nine at the break.

 
Second Half

• Spanning the half, Upstate kept up the game's trend of trading scoring runs as the Spartans pushed theirs to five as Ahmir Langlais found Nick Alves streaking down the baseline for a one-hand jam. The dunk started a stretch that saw neither side string together consecutive scoring possessions for over four minutes to open the period.
• Gardner-Webb became the first team to post consecutive scores in the second half with five consecutive points as the game neared 14 minutes to play. Miguel Ayesa answered the 5-0 scoring run with a personal 5-0 scoring run of his own before Upstate embarked on a 15-3 that featured a 5-0; 6-0, and 4-0 scoring run as the Spartans battled back to tie the game with 10:44 remaining in the game.
• Regaining the advantage, Gardner-Webb followed Upstate's 15-3 scoring stretch with a 7-0 scoring run. The Spartans fought back to tie the game again, this time with a 7-0 scoring stretch of their own before following up out of the under-eight media timeout with a pair of stretches that saw Upstate twice earn the lead, the final with 4:30 to play.
• Seeing Upstate take the lead, the Runnin' Bulldogs scored five straight markers to take back the lead for good, retaking the lead with 3:51 to play in the half. The Spartans continued to fight, working the disadvantage to a single possession on multiple occasions, the last coming with 19 seconds remaining. Upstate put itself in a position to tie or go ahead with possession in the frontcourt in the final seconds before a steal and breakaway layup from Quest Aldridge sealed the game.

 
Notable

• Earning his first career start Saturday against Gardner-Webb, Eduardo Placer became the third Spartan to earn his first career start during the 2023-24 season, joining Patrick Iriel and Jorge Ochoa. With Placer's start, Upstate has seen at least one freshman start a game for the 11^th straight season, dating back to the 2013-14 season.
• Being fouled on a three-point attempt with 4:30 to play in the second half, Justin Bailey drew his 14^th foul while attempting a three-point field goal, extending his national lead in the unofficial category. Doing so against Gardner-Webb, he's drawn at least one foul on a three-point field goal in six of seven Big South games this season.
• Hitting eight three-pointers versus Gardner-Webb, Upstate improved its streak of consecutive games with at least one made three-pointer to 892 games, a streak dating back to the 1994-95 season. The streak includes each of the Spartans' 523 games at the NCAA Division I level (2007-pres.).

 
Up Next for the Spartans
For the first time during Big South play, Upstate remains on the road to complete the team's longest road swing during conference play next Wednesday. The Spartans take the short trip to another regional rival, Presbyterian, meeting the Blue Hose for a 7 p.m. ET tilt.
 
Join us for the Spartan Winter Golf Classic supporting the Upstate Athletic Fund
The USC Upstate Athletic Fund will host the Spartan Winter Golf Classic on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at Woodfin Ridge Golf Club in Inman, S.C. The Spartan Winter Golf Classic is a signature event on the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF) calendar with proceeds directly benefiting Spartan athletics and the on-field efforts of its student-athletes. Registration and sponsorship information is now available online, click here for complete details.
 
USC Upstate sponsoring I-26 Rivalry Canned Food Drive presented by Ingles
Help the Spartans score three bonus points in the yearlong rivalry series against UNC Asheville, the Ingles I-26 Rivalry, by donating canned and non-perishable food items when you attend home events through Saturday, February 10! Donations are accepted at the Hodge Center every day including gamedays and look for more Ingles store drop-off locations and special incentives for donations on our @UpstateSpartans social media accounts! All donations support Miracle Hill Ministries in Spartanburg.
 
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