Karmani Gregory driving for a layup
Natalia Moll

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Karmani Gregory bolsters for his career high in the Ingles I-26 Rivalry at the G.B. Hodge Center

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Returning to the G.B. Hodge Center for their second consecutive home matchup, USC Upstate renewed the Ingles I-26 Rivalry with UNC Asheville for a Wednesday night matchup that featured 12 lead changes and 15 ties. 

Karmani Gregory led with his career high of 23 Points adding 15 first half points with four assists while shooting 10-for-16 from the field and 3-for-7 from beyond the arc. Mister Dean also added 23 Points for his 10th 20 plus point game and his 20th double figure game on the season shooting 9-for-14 from the field while adding five steals on the defensive side. Off the bench, Brit Harris added 11 points going 3-for-5 from beyond the arc and 100 percent from the charity stripe. Isaiah Skinner finished with nine points while shooting 3-for-5 from the three-point line. 

USC Upstate won the turnover battle outdueling the Bulldogs six to nine while adding 16 assists. The Spartans have continued to follow their identity in the lane by outscoring their opponents while taking high percentage looks at the rim with 42 points in the paint compared to UNC Asheville's 38. UNC Asheville outrebounded the Spartans 46 to 33 while adding 10 offensive rebounds. The Spartans followed suit with their next man up mentality outscoring the Bulldogs with 25 bench points. 

Game Information   

Score: USC Upstate 85; UNC Ashville 93 

Records: USC Upstate (5-22; 1-11 Big South); UNC Asheville (18-7; 9-2 Big South)   

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


How It Happened 

First Half 

  • The Spartans opened the first half looking to cut into the early 16-9 lead of the Bulldogs. Brit Harris trimmed the Bulldog lead to four with a three-pointer assisted by Isaiah Skinner. 

  • As UNC Asheville continued to build their lead, the Spartans charged their way back with a 14-4 run to take their first lead with a 32-28 score, their largest lead of the contest. 

  • The balanced scoring of the Spartans continued to highlight their first half with Brit Harris adding his second triple of the half pushing the Spartans back ahead 35-32.  

  • In the span of the final three minutes, the matchup followed with three ties with three-pointers back and forth followed by paint play from Carmelo Adkins. UNC Asheville used the time on their side to score the last basket of the half tying the game at 42. 


Second Half 

  • The action continued with the Spartans regaining the lead as Carmelo Adkins crashed the boards for a rebound and outlet pass with Mister Dean finishing the play on a fastbreak dunk.  

  • Through the following four minutes, the matchup highlighted three lead changes with a Mister Dean layup and Isaiah Skinner connecting from beyond the arc to push the lead back to 50-48. The Spartans continued trading blows with UNC Asheville by matching each score thrown at them with Karmani Gregory showcasing his speed for a fastbreak layup. As the Bulldogs took the lead from a three-pointer, Andrew McConnell quickly responded with a game-tying three to bring the matchup at 65. 

  • UNC Asheville used a 9-3 run to put themselves in the driver's seat converting on three-pointers and drawing fouls to get to the charity stripe. A steal by Mister Dean with under five minutes left drew contact from the Bulldogs seeing Dean go 1-for-2 from the free throw line bringing the score 75-74. 

  • Three consecutive layups from Mister Dean and Karmani Gregory cut UNC Asheville's lead to 81-80 at 1:23 mark but a stepback three from Jordan Marsh was enough to extend the lead to four. USC Upstate showed more life with Isaiah Skinner converting his third three-pointer of the game to bring Asheville's lead to 86-83. The Bulldogs were able to convert their final six free throws to hold off the Spartans in the G.B. Hodge Center. 

     

    Notable 

  • Redshirt Sophomore guard, Karmani Gregory surpassed his career high in scoring with 23 Points with his previous career high being 18 Point against High Point University on January 22, 2025.  

  • Freshman Guard, Mister Dean secured his 10th 20 point game of the season moving his season average to 15.8 points per game. 

  • USC Upstate outdueled the Bulldogs from three-point line shooting 40 percent as a team compared to Bulldogs' 37 percent.

     



  • Up Next for the Spartans  

    Continuing road play in the Big South, USC Upstate hosts Gardner-Webb University Saturday, February 15 for their homecoming matchup starting at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time.  


    Hub City Live Auction: The jersey auction will go live on Wednesday, February 12, at 9 a.m. and will run until 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 15. Proceeds will directly benefit USC Upstate student-athletes.  
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