SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Returning to the G.B. Hodge Center for the second consecutive game with a loud crowd full of Spartan fans, Upstate Men's Basketball hosted Bob Jones University shooting 61 percent overall and 50 percent from beyond the arc cruising for their highest scoring outing with a 114-53 final. 

The Spartans saw Mason Bendinger and Carmelo Adkins lead the charge with 17 points apiece, Bendinger's highest scoring total in a Spartan uniform. Learic Davis added 15 points, four rebounds, and three assists followed by Karmani Gregory and Nic Book adding 12 points. The last Spartan in double figures featured Kanye Jones scoring 10 points in 15 minutes of play. The Spartans were led by Isaiah Skinner with a new career high of 12 rebounds followed by Jafeth Martinez adding seven rebounds and Coen Collier contributing with six. Upstate won the points in the paint battle 54 to 24 followed by their second consecutive game with 60+ bench points. The Spartans held the lead through both halves, scoring 25 points off turnovers and 27 fastbreak points. Defensively, Tyler Smith led Upstate with five steals followed by Kanye Jones adding two steals along with Chico Johnson and Karmani Gregory contributing with one steal. 

Game Information 

Score: USC Upstate 114: Bob Jones 53 

Records: USC Upstate (3-1; 0-0 Big South) vs. Bob Jones (1-1; 0-0 NCCAA) 

Location: G.B. Hodge Center | Spartanburg, S.C. 

How it Happened 

First Half 

• Upstate jumped to a 12-6 lead with Mason Bendinger scoring the first 9 out of 12 for the Spartans. 

• With Bob Jones cutting Upstate's lead to 14-10, two consecutive triples from Carmelo Adkins moved the Spartans' lead to 20-13 at the 11:37 mark. 

• A 13-2 lead from Upstate led by Learic Davis helped the Spartans move their lead to 37-19 at the 5:02 mark. 

• Karmani Gregory continued keeping the fast offensive pace with an and-one layup followed by Mason Bendinger's layup and a Carmelo Adkins triple. 

• A free throw from the charity stripe and another basket from Karmani Gregory moved Upstate's lead to 48-28 at the break. 

Second Half 
 

• The Spartans wasted no time getting on the board continuing to move the pace with two consecutive scores from Karmani Gregory and a fastbreak dunk from Mason Bendinger. 

• Learic Davis displayed his speed on two consecutive baskets from a Tyler Smith steal and then a coast-to-coast layup. 

• The lead grew to 38 with the ball movement of Upstate being fluent resulting in three consecutive triples from Carmelo Adkins, Tyler Smith, and Karmani Gregory. 

• As the offense continued to spread the love, Isaiah Skinner and Kanye Jones entered the mix with two consecutive triples building the lead to 85-36. 

• Under the 10 minute mark, CJ Rich showed his quick release from beyond the arc splashing two consecutive three pointers stretching the lead to 97-43. 

• Nic Book's work in the paint helped put the Spartans past 100 for the second consecutive game in a row followed by a four-point play from Chico Johnson. 

• The final baskets came from three free throws from Kanye Jones followed a steal and slam from Jones. 

Notable 

• Tonight's total of 114 points is the most scored in the Marty Richter era followed by the most scored in the Division I era. (Prev. Vs Charlotte on Nov. 22, 2016). 

• Mason Bendinger added his new season high with 17 points and has scored in double figures in all four games appeared in. 

• Tyler Smith's five steals were the most since Karmani Gregory on February 22, 2025. 

• Isaiah Skinner's 12 rebounds tallied a new career-high with his previous being eight against Southern Wesleyan on November 19, 2024. 

Up next for the Spartans  

Wrapping up a two-game homestand, Upstate Men's Basketball returns to non-conference road play traveling to Wilmington, North Carolina for a Saturday night matchup with UNCW at 7:00 P.M. live on FloCollege.  

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!  

Print Friendly Version