SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Coming off the team's recently culminated two-game homestand, USC Upstate men's basketball hits the road for the final time during the 2023-24 season as the team's penultimate game of the season sees Upstate head to Winthrop for a Saturday tilt.
Saturday's Matchup
February 24, 2024 | 2:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (9-18; 4-10 Big South) vs. Winthrop (16-12; 7-6 Big South)
Winthrop Coliseum | Rock Hill, 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 (9-18; 4-10 Big South); Winthrop (16-12; 7-6 Big South)
Series: Winthrop leads 11-2
Last Five Meetings: Jan. 6, 2024 (WU 82; UPST 80 [OT]); Feb. 11, 2023 (UPST 79; WU 70); Dec. 29, 2022 (UPST 70; WU 62); Feb. 24, 2022 (WU 89; UPST 59); Jan. 26, 2022 (WU 95; UPST 91 [OT])
First Meeting This Season
In the season's first meeting between Upstate and Winthrop, the Spartans displayed their resolve and overcame a second-half deficit and lengthy scoring drought to fight back and force overtime, giving themselves a chance to win as they held the Eagles without a field goal for the final three minutes of the extra period. Five Spartans scored in double-figures led by 16 points from graduate student guard
Nick Alves, but Upstate, unfortunately, fell at the final buzzer 82-80.
Player to Watch
USC Upstate: Leading all Spartans scorers against Charleston Southern, sophomore guard
Justin Bailey secured his eighth straight double-figure scoring game—the longest double-figure scoring streak of his career—as he dropped 17 points behind 5-of-12 shooting from the field and 7-of-7 shooting from the line. Defensively, he swiped four steals, his third game this season with four-plus steals, as he helped Upstate force 15 or more turnovers for the third straight game. On the season, he averages 12.0 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.
Winthrop: Representing the Eagles' leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 14.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per contest, senior forward Kelton Talford notched his second double-double of the season as he led Winthrop with 15 points and 10 boards versus Presbyterian. He enters Saturday's game shooting 61.9 percent from the field as he's posted field goal percentages greater than 60 percent in each of his past three games and 12 of his past 13 contests.
Last Time Out
February 21, 2024:
Charleston Southern 63; USC Upstate 60
February 21, 2024:
Presbyterian 78; Winthrop 55
Up Next for the Spartans
For the final time in the regular season, Upstate returns to the G.B. Hodge Center to host Presbyterian in the team's regular-season finale. The Spartans and Blue Hose tip-off Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET.
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