SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Making an immediate return to action after opening the 2024-25 season Monday evening, USC Upstate men's basketball hits the floor at the G.B. Hodge Center for the first time in the campaign Wednesday evening. The middle contest in a three-game week for the Spartans sees Upstate welcome Piedmont to the Hub City for a 7 p.m. ET tip-off.
 
Wednesday's Matchup
November 6, 2024 | 7:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (0-1; 0-0 Big South) vs. Piedmont (0-0; 0-0 CCS)
G.B. Hodge Center | Spartanburg, S.C.
 
TV: ESPN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
Radio: Fox Sports Spartanburg 98.3 FM/1400 AM | Also available via the FoxSports Spartanburg or TuneIn App
Weekly Coaches Interview: Catch head coach Marty Richter weekly on Fox Sports Spartanburg every Tuesday at 3:20 p.m. ET.
 
How They Stack Up
Records: USC Upstate (0-1; 0-0 Big South); Piedmont (0-0; 0-0 CCS)
Series: USC Upstate leads 1-0
Last Five Meetings: Nov. 14, 2011 (UPST 91; PIED 66)
 
Last Time Out
November 4, 2024: NC State 97; USC Upstate 66
November 4, 2024: Winthrop 125; Piedmont 65 (ex.)
 
Players to Watch
USC Upstate: Coming off the bench and playing 24 minutes—tied for most among bench players—freshman forward Nic Book nearly notched a double-double in his first collegiate action. He finished the night against NC State with 10 points and nine rebounds, one of three double-figure scorers for the Spartans and the team's leading rebounder. Freshman guard Mister Dean and redshirt sophomore guard Karmani Gregory also scored in double-figures with 14 and 13 markers, respectively.
 
Piedmont: Entering the Lions' Division I exhibition slate as the team's leading returning scorer, junior guard Fisher Darden dropped a team-high 15 points Monday against Winthrop, finishing the night 6-of-13 from the field. Last season, he averaged 13.8 points per game, shooting 51 percent from the field and 48 percent from three. Darden also led Piedmont in rebounding a year ago, averaging 5.3 per contest.
 
Up Next for the Spartans
Closing out its week, USC Upstate heads to the Commonwealth of Virginia for its second matchup of the week against an ACC foe. The Spartans head to Virginia Tech for a 7 p.m. ET tilt Friday evening.
 
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YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans
 
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