SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Continuing the week of action, Upstate Men's Basketball travels down the road to Boiling Springs, North Carolina for Big South action for Friday night action at Gardner-Webb live on ESPN+. Originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon, impending winter storms pushed the game to Friday night at 7:00 P.M.
Friday's Matchup
Friday, January 23| 7:00 P.M. EST
USC Upstate (9-12; 1-5 Big South) vs. Gardner-Webb (2-19; 0-6 Big South)
Radio: Fox Sports Spartanburg 98.3 FM/1400| Also available via the FoxSports Spartanburg or TuneIn App
TV: ESPN+ | Via WatchESPN.com or the ESPN App
Weekly Coaches Interviews: Catch head coach Marty Richter twice every week! Mondays at 4:30 P.M.: "Spartans at the Spice" at Sugar N Spice (Watch) and Tuesdays at 3:40 p.m. at Fox Sports Spartanburg
How they stack up
All-time series: Gardner-Webb leads 13-6
Last five meetings: Mar. 5, 2025 (GWU 83; UPST 63); Feb. 15, 2025 (GWU 96; UPST 87); Jan. 18, 2025 (GWU 98; UPST 67); Feb. 17, 2024 (GWU 73; UPST 65); Jan. 27, 2024 (GWU 75; UPST 70)
How they compare
|
USC Upstate
|
|
Gardner-Webb
|
|
76.2
|
Scoring Offense
|
68.5
|
|
73.5
|
Scoring Defense
|
88.9
|
|
2.7
|
Scoring Margin
|
-20.4
|
|
.447
|
Field Goal Pct.
|
.416
|
|
.425
|
Field Goal Pct. Defense
|
.507
|
|
.343
|
Three-Point FG Pct.
|
.305
|
|
.329
|
Three-Point FG Pct. Defense
|
.364
|
|
.683
|
Free Throw Pct.
|
.704
|
|
37.5
|
Rebounds/Game
|
31.1
|
|
37.5
|
Rebounds Against/Game
|
39.8
|
|
0.0
|
Rebounding Margin
|
-8.6
|
|
12.9
|
Assists/Game
|
10.4
|
|
11.9
|
Turnovers/Game
|
14.6
|
|
11.9
|
Turnovers Forced/Game
|
10.9
|
|
0.0
|
Turnover Margin
|
-3.5
|
|
6.3
|
Steals/Game
|
6.0
|
|
4.6
|
Blocks/Game
|
2.4
|
Last times out
January 21, 2026: UNC Asheville 83; USC Upstate 69
January 21, 2026: Longwood 91; Gardner-Webb 56
Players to Watch
USC Upstate: Redshirt Junior Guard, Karmani Gregory continues to be the engine getting Upstate into their offensive sets as the distributor and possesses the will to score getting to his spots on the court. Gregory is second on the team averaging 13.7 points per game and shooting 39 percent from the field while shooting 32 percent from beyond the arc. Gregory has scored 10 games on the season scoring 15+ points or more, including his recent 16-point performance against UNC Asheville. Gregory tallied his career high against Gardner-Webb during the 2024-25 season with 27 points on February 15, 2025, being the only player scoring 20+ points in the battle for Upstate. As the Spartans look to get back into the win column, Gregory will look to lead the Spartans in the Friday night showdown at Gardner-Webb.
Gardner-Webb: Redshirt Freshman, Spence Sims has grown in his career at Gardner-Webb leading the Runnin' Bulldogs with 10.8 points per game shooting 47 percent from the field and a team-leading 44 percent from beyond the arc. Sims added his season and career high with 29 points on January 3, 2026, against Winthrop shooting 11-for-18 from the field and 7-for-12 from the perimeter. Sims has five games on the season converting four or more triples in a game and will look to push the Runnin' Bulldogs into the win column hosting Upstate.
Up next for the Spartans
Upstate Men's Basketball returns to the hardwood for a Thursday night showdown hosting conference opponent, Longwood University, live on ESPN+ at 7:00 P.M. The night will be themed as a "Black out" night along with Coaches versus Cancer night.
Connect with the Spartans
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics
Twitter | @UpstateMBB | @UpstateSpartans
Instagram | @Upstate_MBB | @UpstateSpartans
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans
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