JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - Opening the Big South Men's Basketball Championships for the #8 and #9 game, USC Upstate battled Gardner-Webb making it their third meeting of the 2024-25 year. Gardner-Webb used a 50 point second half to overcome Upstate's fiery start to the game moving on the Quarterfinals. 

Karmani Gregory and Mister Dean led with 17 points apiece and Brit Harris followed with 12 points off the bench. In the rebounding column, Nic Book led with seven rebounds followed by Mister Dean adding six and Carmelo Adkins adding four. Upstate Men's Basketball outscored the Runnin' Bulldogs in bench points with 33 compared to 18. Gardner-Webb won the battle in the paint with 48 compared to Upstate's 34. Gardner-Webb's second chance points was another key factor with 18 to Upstate's eight keeping possessions alive.  

Game Information 

Score: USC Upstate 63; Garnder-Webb 83 

Location: Freedom Hall Civic Center| Johnson City, Tenn. 

How it Happened 

First Half 

• Opening the first half, the Spartans opened the scoring column with Carmelo Adkins crashing the offensive boards for a tip-in layup.  

• Gardner-Webb responded by forcing multiple turnovers to jumpstart a 11-0 run leading 18-7.  

• Multiple three-pointers from Chico Johnson and Isaiah Skinner kept the Spartans within the fight cutting Gardner Webb's lead to nine. The Runnin' Bulldogs followed with back to back layups to add their biggest lead with 28-15.  

• Upstate began settling into offense with Karmani Gregory driving the lane for a layup cutting the Gardner-Webb lead to single digits. Upstate continued their offensive firepower with a deep three from Brit Harris, layup from Mister Dean, and tip-in layup from Nic Book ending the half with a 13-2 run to trail 31-28 at the break. 

Second Half 

• Mister Dean opened the the second half with the first two scores for the Spartans with a dunk and layup keeping the Spartans within the fight through the early going. Gardner-Webb continued to attack the paint rather than spreading the floor pushing their lead to 43-35 by the first media timeout. 

• Upstate began to find their way into the paint with Dean and Brit Harris scoring three consecutive baskets cutting the lead to 45-41.  

• The Runnin' Bulldogs began to spread the floor with a three-pointer that pushed their lead to 10 with hopes of wiping out any momentum left for Upstate. Karmani Gregory began finding his teammates in the paint with an alley-oop to Mister Dean and assist to Daniel Helterhoff under the 10 minute mark. 

• Gardner-Webb used a 15-5 run to put the momentum fully on their side totaling to 52 second half points winning 83-63. 

Notable 

• The game featured zero ties and one lead change with Gardner-Webb holding the lead most of the way. 

• Nic Book's seven rebounds was tied for third most on the season with his most being nine against NC State and Piedmont. 

SAVE THE DATE FOR SPARTY'S BALL – MAY 17th – Support USC Upstate Athletics at Sparty's Ball, the largest fundraising event of the year for the Upstate Athletic Fund (UAF), to be held Saturday, May 17, 2025 at the Milliken Club at Fifth Third Park. For tickets, sponsorship and auction 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!