JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Beginning the ETSU MTE, an event that gives the team experience competing at the home of the 2025 Big South Men's Basketball Championship, USC Upstate men's basketball dropped its event opener against host East Tennessee State in an 87-76 decision Friday evening from Freedom Hall.
 
For the sixth time through seven games to open the season, freshman guard Mister Dean paced the Spartans offensively, pouring in 19 points behind a 7-of-12 shooting performance. He pulled in a career-high-tying nine rebounds for the second straight contest as he sought his first career double-double.
 
Junior guard Brit Harris, redshirt freshman guard Chico Johnson, and redshirt sophomore guard Karmani Gregory joined Dean in double-figures, dropping 13, 11, and 10 markers, respectively. Finishing just shy of double-figures, junior forward Breylin Garcia offered nine points.
 
Game Information
Score: ETSU 87; USC Upstate 76
Records: USC Upstate (2-5; 0-0 Big South); ETSU (3-2; 0-0 SoCon)
Location: Freedom Hall | Johnson City, Tenn.
 
How It Happened
First Half

• For the first time in seven games in 2024, Upstate cracked the seal on the basket first as Breylin Garcia knocked down a hook shot. ETSU answered with three free throws, changing the lead for the first time, setting up a string of responses from the Spartans as the game moved toward the under-16 media timeout.
• Crafting the first extended scoring run of the half, Upstate entered the first media stoppage on a 6-0 scoring stretch, capped by a pair of dunks from Mister Dean. The Buccaneers countered the Spartans' run with a 7-2 scoring stretch to knot the game at 15 as the under-12 timeout loomed.
• Upstate answered with four straight markers into the under-12 stoppage, regaining the lead. Battling back, ETSU fashioned a 14-5 scoring stretch, including a 5-0 and 7-0 scoring run, building its largest lead of the half at five points.
• Responding to the Buccaneers' largest lead of the first half, Upstate offered its lengthiest scoring run of the first half, a 9-0 scoring spurt to retake the advantage. The Spartans pushed the run further, seeing a 16-5 stretch as the half dwindled to grow its lead to six thrice in the final two minutes of the period.

 
Second Half

• Seeing Upstate notch the final markers of the first half, the Buccaneers registered the first five of the new stanza, regaining the advantage. The Spartans kept pace with ETSU over the following minutes, not allowing the advantage to grow greater than four.
• Spanning the under-16 media stoppage, Upstate fashioned its longest scoring run of the second half, a 6-0 scoring stretch featuring three different scorers, to retake the advantage. The Spartans answered a pair of retorts from the Buccaneers as the lead changed hands twice into the under-12 media timeout—the final two lead changes of the half.
• Taking control, ETSU built its longest scoring run of the evening with an 11-0 run, pushing the lead to double-digits for the first time. The Buccaneers held Upstate without a made field goal for over five minutes, extending its scoring stretch to 17 -1, growing the largest lead of the night, 15 points.
• Over the game's final seven minutes of action, both sides traded scoring spurts as the lead remained in the 10 to 15-point range. Closing the night, Upstate finished the half on a 7-3 scoring stretch, creating the final scoring margin.

 
Up Next for the Spartans
Returning to action at the ETSU MTE, USC Upstate faces Queens Saturday evening in the second game of the three-team event. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. ET from Johnson City, Tenn. in the neutral site contest.
 
Connect with the Spartans 
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics 
Twitter | @UpstateMBB | @UpstateSpartans 
Instagram | @Upstate_MBB | @UpstateSpartans 
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans
 
INVEST IN CHAMPIONS - Join the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF) and enjoy enhanced benefits for your support of all USC Upstate programs! Make your gift today, click here!