SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Returning to the court for their final road regular-season game, Upstate Men's Basketball takes their talents to North Carolina to take on the top-seeded, High Point University for an evening matchup. The Spartans looks to tie the series and overcome the Panthers' high-powered offensive approach.
Wednesday's Matchup
February 26, 2025| 7:00 P.M. ET
USC Upstate (6-23; 2-12 Big South) vs. High Point Panthers (25-5; 13-2 Big South)
Qubein Center| High Point, N.C.
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! Tuesdays at 3:20 p.m.: Fox Sports Spartanburg live at Delaney's and Mondays at 4:00 p.m.: "Spartans at the Spice" at Sugar N Spice (Watch).
How they Stack Up
Series: High Point Leads 8-5
Last Five Meetings: Jan. 22, 2025 (HP 86; UPST 77) Feb. 14, 2024 (UPST 86; HP 81); Jan. 24, 2024 (HP 78; UPST 67); Feb. 18, 2023 (HP 81; UPST 66); Jan. 7, 2023 (UPST 76; HP 57)
How they Compare
|
USC Upstate
|
|
High Point
|
|
75.8
|
Scoring Offense
|
82.2
|
|
83.4
|
Scoring Defense
|
68.9
|
|
-7.6
|
Scoring Margin
|
13.3
|
|
.461
|
Field Goal Pct.
|
.493
|
|
.476
|
Field Goal Pct. Defense
|
.426
|
|
.311
|
Three-Point FG Pct.
|
.365
|
|
.343
|
Three-Point FG Pct. Defense
|
.328
|
|
.680
|
Free Throw Pct.
|
.772
|
|
34.2
|
Rebounds/Game
|
36.1
|
|
37.2
|
Rebounds Against/Game
|
30.6
|
|
-3.0
|
Rebounding Margin
|
5.5
|
|
13.6
|
Assists/Game
|
13.0
|
|
13.9
|
Turnovers/Game
|
10.3
|
|
12.1
|
Turnovers Forced/Game
|
11.5
|
|
-1.8
|
Turnover Margin
|
1.2
|
|
7.2
|
Steals/Game
|
6.1
|
|
2.2
|
Blocks/Game
|
2.9
|
Last Times Out
February 22, 2025: USC Upstate 79; Charleston Southern 69
February 22, 2025: High Point 90; Gardner-Webb 67
Players to Watch
USC Upstate: Freshman Guard, Carmelo Adkins has put together a freshman season averaging 10.7 points per game while being featured as the Big South Freshman of the Week three times (Dec. 2, Dec. 9, Feb. 10). Adkins has contributed to crashing the boards for the Spartans by being the third leading rebounder on the team with 4.8 rebounds per game. Carmelo Adkins added his first career double-double in the February 8th matchup against Winthrop adding 17 Points and 11 rebounds. Adkins also adds a feel of spreading the floor with the second leading three-point percentage shooting 35 percent from beyond the arc. Adkins will look to add a scoring threat to the Panthers and tie the season series.
High Point: Senior Guard, Keeza Giffa comes into the matchup as the Big South Player of the Week where he averaged 20.5 points through two games against Charleston Southern and Gardner-Webb. In the January matchup against USC Upstate, Giffa added 18 Points shooting 5-for-7 overall, 2-for-2 from beyond the arc, and 6-for-7 from the charity stripe. Giffa leads the Panthers with 15.0 points per game while shooting 45 percent from the field and 86 percent from the charity stripe. Giffa adds a versatile style of play with his shooting ability and his way of getting his teammates involved.
Up Next for the Spartans
The Spartans will return to the court for their regular season home finale against Big South opponent, Longwood University for an afternoon matchup at the G.B. Hodge Center with a scheduled tip at 2:00 P.M.
Connect with the Spartans
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics
Twitter | @UpstateMBB | @UpstateSpartans
Instagram | @Upstate_MBB | @UpstateSpartans
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans
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