SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Finishing the first half of the Big South Conference schedule and closing out the team's longest road trip during league play, USC Upstate men's basketball faces another regional conference rival, meeting Presbyterian as a series between the two institutions making the transition to NCAA Division I on the same day continues with the Spartans seeking a sixth straight victory against the Blue Hose Wednesday evening.
Wednesday's Matchup
January 31, 2024 | 7:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (6-14; 1-6 Big South) at Presbyterian (9-13; 1-6 Big South)
Templeton Center | Clinton, 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 (6-14; 1-6 Big South); Presbyterian (9-13; 1-6 Big South)
Series: USC Upstate leads 7-4
Last Five Meetings: Feb. 22, 2023 (UPST 59; PC 57); Jan. 18, 2023 (UPST 61; PC 60); Feb. 16, 2022 (UPST 60; PC 55); Jan. 8, 2022 (UPST 82; PC 72); Feb. 18, 2021 (UPST 65; PC 51)
Players to Watch
USC Upstate: Averaging 4.1 assists per game during Big South play, redshirt junior guard
Trae Broadnax leads the conference in assists per game during league play, passing out four or more assists in three separate league contests, including a career-high-tying eight versus High Point. He also ranks eighth in the league in scoring at 15.7 points per game, scoring in double-figures in six of seven Big South games and exceeding 15 points on four occasions. Despite seeing his streak of nine straight double-figure games snapped Saturday, he's scored at least eight or more points in 31 straight games dating back to last season.
Presbyterian: Leading the Blue Hose with 17 points against Radford, junior guard Samage Teel upped his team-leading scoring total during Big South play to 15.6 points per game, ranking ninth in the conference. He's scored in double-figures in each of Presbyterian's seven league games, scoring 15 or more points in each of his past three contests, including a pair of 20-plus point outings. Teel also enters Wednesday's game as the lone Big South player to rank in three-point field goal percentage during conference play, hitting 48.6 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc against league foes.
Last Time Out
January 27, 2024:
Gardner-Webb 75; USC Upstate 70
January 27, 2024:
Radford 73; Presbyterian 58
Up Next for the Spartans
As the league slate swings back to the rematch portion of the schedule, Upstate begins the second half of the conference campaign at the G.B. Hodge Center versus Radford. The Spartans look to avenge a 64-61 last-second loss to the Highlanders on Jan. 20 as things tip off Saturday at 4 p.m. ET.
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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