SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Wrapping up the team's non-conference slate, USC Upstate men's basketball hits the floor at the G.B. Hodge Center one final time in the calendar year, welcoming Youngstown State Saturday afternoon. The meeting is the second trip to the Hub City for the Penguins in the Spartans' Division I era (2007-pres.) with their last trip part of the 2019 Global Sports Shootout.
 
Saturday's Matchup
December 21, 2024 | 1:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (4-10; 0-0 Big South) vs. Youngstown State (7-5; 3-0 Horizon)
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 (Saturday only) | 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 (4-10; 0-0 Big South); Youngstown State (7-5; 3-0 Horizon)
Series: Youngstown State leads 1-0
Last Five Meetings: Nov. 23, 2019 (YSU 66; UPST 61)
 
Last Times Out
December 18, 2024: South Carolina State 85; USC Upstate 70
December 18, 2024: Youngstown State 80; Wright State 70
 
Players to Watch
USC Upstate: Fed by a D1 era single-game program record 14 made free throws, freshman guard Carmelo Adkins poured in a career-high 21 points Wednesday against South Carolina State. He finished 3-of-6 from the floor against the Bulldogs as he secured his eighth double-figure scoring game of the season. Adkins enters Saturday's game averaging 10.9 points per game while shooting 48.0 percent from the field this season.
 
Youngstown State: Pacing all Penguin scorers against Wright State, fifth-year senior guard Ty Harper offered 14 second-half markers en route to a 16-point effort. He finished 5-of-8 from the field and 3-of-6 from three versus the Raiders, posting season-best shooting performances. He averages just shy of double-figures for Youngstown State at 9.3 points per game entering the weekend.
 
Up Next for the Spartans
Following the holiday break, USC Upstate returns to action on Jan. 2 as Big South Conference play begins. The Spartans open on the road, travelling to Winthrop for a 4 p.m. ET tip.
 
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