SPARTANBURG, S.C. - After a quick stop at the G.B. Hodge Center for a high intense matchup against High Point Wednesday night, the Spartans look to take some positives with them on the road as USC Upstate travels to Longwood for an afternoon battle on Saturday. The Spartans are currently on a three-game winning streak in the series between the two opponents and will look to take some positives from the matchup against High Point to put altogether against the Lancers.
Saturday's Matchup
January 25, 2025| 3:00 P.M ET
USC Upstate (5-16; 1-5 Big South) vs. Longwood (15-6; 4-2 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| Also available via the FoxSports Spartanburg or TuneIn App
Weekly Coaches Interviews:
Catch head coach Marty Richter twice every week!
Mondays at 4:00 p.m.: "Spartans at the Spice" at Sugar N Spice with Coach Dick Cox (Watch).
Tuesdays at 3:20 p.m.: Visit with the Voice of the Spartans Ryan Clary at Delaney's Irish Pub (when available)
How they Stack Up
Series: USC Upstate leads series 7-5
Last Five Meetings: Feb. 7, 2024 (UPST 69; LWU 64); Jan. 17, 2024 (UPST 73; LWU 71); Feb. 15, 2023 (UPST 72; LWU 67); Jan. 14, 2023 (LWU 72; UPST 65); Mar. 5, 2022 (LWU 79; UPST 70)
How they Compare
|
USC Upstate
|
|
Longwood
|
|
75.7
|
Scoring Offense
|
80.2
|
|
82.9
|
Scoring Defense
|
71.5
|
|
-7.2
|
Scoring Margin
|
7.0
|
|
.463
|
Field Goal Pct.
|
.455
|
|
.474
|
Field Goal Pct. Defense
|
.469
|
|
.298
|
Three-Point FG Pct.
|
.322
|
|
.348
|
Three-Point FG Pct. Defense
|
.313
|
|
.698
|
Free Throw Pct.
|
.741
|
|
35.2
|
Rebounds/Game
|
35.3
|
|
36.8
|
Rebounds Against/Game
|
31.7
|
|
-1.1
|
Rebounding Margin
|
3.1
|
|
13.2
|
Assists/Game
|
13.3
|
|
14.5
|
Turnovers/Game
|
12.1
|
|
11.9
|
Turnovers Forced/Game
|
15.2
|
|
-2.7
|
Turnover Margin
|
3.1
|
|
6.9
|
Steals/Game
|
7.7
|
|
2.1
|
Blocks/Game
|
2.0
|
Last Times Out
January 22, 2025: High Point 86; USC Upstate 77
January 22, 2025: Longwood 77; Radford 74
Players to Watch
USC Upstate: Redshirt Sophomore Guard, Karmani Gregory has led the backcourt for the Spartans with his High IQ and court vision. Gregory also adds three-level scoring that can keep an opposing defense guessing his next move. Gregory led USC Upstate in scoring against High Point during Wednesday's matchup with 18 Points and displayed his court vision with six assists. Gregory's 18 Points was not only his season high but also his career high overall. Karmani Gregory currently averages 10.2 Points per game while shooting 38 percent overall and being tied fifth in the Big South with 3.8 Assists per game. Gregory led with his career high of nine assists in the matchup against UNC Asheville on January 15. Through six games in January, Gregory has scored in double figures three times and will be a key player to watch for the Spartans as he will help guide the offense for USC Upstate against Longwood.
Longwood: Junior Forward, Michael Christmas currently leads the Lancers in scoring averaging 12.7 Points per game. Christmas has scored in double figures in the last two wins for Longwood against High Point and Radford. Michael Christmas is the second leading rebounder on the team with 4.3 rebounds per game and currently sits at #6 in the Big South with 2.1 three-pointers made per game. Christmas adds efficiency when shooting the ball with shooting 40 percent overall, 34 percent from beyond the arc, and 70 percent from the charity stripe. Longwood will look to lean on his strength in the post while stretching the floor to complicate the defense with hopes of moving Longwood's winning streak to three while ending their losing streak against USC Upstate.
Up Next for the Spartans
USC Upstate will return home to G.B. Hodge Center to continue play in the Big South for an evening matchup against Charleston Southern University Wednesday, January 29th with a 6:00 P.M. tip scheduled.
Ingles I-26 Rivalry Food Drive: Support Miracle Hill Ministries in Spartanburg by donating to the Ingles I-26 Rivalry Series Food Drive through Wednesday, February 12. All donations stay local and donors may scan the QR code on donation bins for a free ticket to an upcoming Upstate basketball game. For donation locations and more information, click here.
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!
