SPARTANBURG, S.C. – As the second half of the Big South slate advances, USC Upstate men's basketball closes out its season series with another conference foe hailing from the Commonwealth of Virginia, looking to keep up its momentum against Longwood Wednesday evening.
 
Wednesday's Matchup
February 7, 2024 | 7:00 p.m. ET
USC Upstate (7-15; 2-7 Big South) vs. Longwood (14-10; 2-7 Big South)
Joan Perry Brock Center | Farmville, Va.
 
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 (7-15; 2-7 Big South); Longwood (14-10; 2-7 Big South)
Series: USC Upstate leads 6-5
Last Five Meetings: Jan. 17, 2024 (UPST 73; LWU 71); Feb. 15, 2023 (UPST 72; LWU 67); Jan. 14, 2023 (LWU 72; UPST 65); March 5, 2022 (LWU 79; UPST 70); Feb. 10, 2022 (LWU 85; UPST 72)
 
First Meeting This Season
In the season's first meeting between Upstate and Longwood, the Spartans capped a double-digit second-half comeback as redshirt senior forward Ahmir Langlais crashed the boards and stuck a putback with 1.5 seconds remaining in a 73-71 victory at the G.B. Hodge Center. Four Spartans finished the night in double-figures as sophomore guard Justin Bailey and redshirt junior guard Trae Broadnax led the quartet with 16 points apiece.
 
Players to Watch
USC Upstate: Earning his fifth double-digit scoring half of the season—all coming during Big South play—, graduate student guard Nick Alves helped the Spartans close out their victory over Radford as he scored each of his 14 points after halftime. Despite shooting under 40 percent from the field for the first time in league play, he enters Wednesday's game ranked second in the conference in field goal percentage during Big South games, shooting 63.2 percent from the floor. He also enters the game holding a streak of 10 games making at least four field goals, including all nine conference games.
 
Longwood: Leading the Lancers with a team-high 21 points versus Charleston Southern, senior guard Walyn Napper improved his team-leading scoring average to 14.0 points per game behind his third 20-plus point scoring game of the year. He also paces the Longwood offense as he's passed out 103 assists on the season, a total ranking second in the Big South while he averages 4.3 helpers per contest.
 
Last Time Out
February 3, 2024: USC Upstate 78; Radford 69
February 3, 2024: Charleston Southern 83; Longwood 77
 
Up Next for the Spartans
Ending a stretch of games against the Big South's Virginia contingent, Upstate returns to the G.B. Hodge Center to face another regional conference rival. The Spartans host UNC Asheville in the second meeting of the Ingles I-26 Rivalry Series Saturday at 4 p.m. ET.
 
Donate to the I-26 Rivalry Canned Food Drive supporting Miracle Hill Ministries
Support USC Upstate Athletics and Miracle Hill Ministries by donating canned and non-perishable food items for the Ingles I-26 Rivalry Canned Food Drive through February 10. A competition between USC Upstate and UNC Asheville, the school collecting the most donations will win three bonus points in the yearlong rivalry series. For rivalry series details and donation drop-off locations, click here. Make your donations of three or more canned or non-perishable food items at the home basketball games on Feb. 7 and 10 and be entered to win USC Upstate gear, gift cards, and other prizes! Stop by the Ingles Marketing Tent in the lobby of the Hodge Center for more details.
 
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