BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Ending the week of action, Upstate Men's Basketball traveled to the Gardner-Webb University for a Friday night showdown in Big South play where the Runnin' Bulldogs surpassed the Spartans with a 67-65 final. 

Karmani Gregory led with 22 points, marking his fifth 20+ point performance on the season. Gregory shot 8-for-16 from the field, 4-for-7 from beyond the arc and 2-for-2 from the free throw line. He also added four rebounds and one steal in the bout. Carmelo Adkins followed with 15 points shooting 4-for-8 from the field, 3-for-5 from beyond the arc, and 4-for-6 from the free throw line. Mason Bendinger contributed 12 points while adding five rebounds, one block and one steal. On the boards, Learic Davis and Breylin Garcia led with six rebounds apiece with Garcia grabbing a team-high of three offensive rebounds. Coen Collier led the Spartans with two blocks followed by Mason Bendinger and Learic Davis adding one block.  

Gardner-Webb outdueled the Spartans with 40 rebounds (12 offensive and 28 defensive) compared to Upstate's 34 (11 offensive and 23 defensive). The Runnin' Bulldogs leaned on their paint action with 42 points in the paint to the Spartans' 28. Upstate's bench play outdid Gardner-Webb with 37 bench points to Gardner-Webb's 25. The battle between the Spartans and Runnin' Bulldogs saw the lead change hands 10 times along with the score being tied 10 times. 

Game Information 

Score: Gardner-Webb 67; USC Upstate 65 

Records: USC Upstate (9-13; 1-6 Big South) vs. Gardner-Webb (3-19; 1-6 Big South) 

Location: Paul Porter Arena| Boiling Springs, North Carolina 

How it Happened 

First Half 

• Upstate jumped ahead with a 12-7 lead with Karmani Gregory scoring the first eight points through five minutes. A well-designed play saw Carmelo Adkins find Learic Davis for the alley-oop for the five-point advantage. 

• Carmelo Adkins began catching fire going 3-for-3 from beyond the arc giving the Spartans their largest lead at the 11:31 mark. 

• Gardner-Webb responded with an 8-2 lead cutting their deficit back to single digits under the 10 minute mark. The Spartans halted the run with two consecutive baskets from Karmani Gregory and Mason Bendinger extending the lead back to 27-19. 

• As the half winded down, Gregory continued to catch fire converting another triple and scoring the final basket for Upstate, keeping the Spartans ahead 32-29 at the break. 

Second Half 

• The battle continued with the Spartans holding the advantage through the first five minutes leading 41-37. Learic Davis followed with converting on the following basket keeping Upstate ahead. 

• Gardner-Webb grabbed their first lead at the 11:53 mark which resulted in the leading changing hands five times through the following five minutes. 

• Karmani Gregory responded with a layup on the fastbreak putting Upstate back in the lead followed by Learic Davis breaking the tie after the lead changed hands the following minute.  

• Under the three minute mark, Gardner-Webb grabbed their largest lead converting a triple to lead 65-60 at the 1:10 mark. Karmani Gregory did not waste any time cutting the deficit close with a response from beyond the arc.  

• Breaking the press, Learic Davis found Breylin Garcia wide open for the game-tying layup, knotting it at 65. Under 10 seconds, Gardner-Webb drove through the contact for the game-winning layup. 

Notable 

• Junior Guard, CJ Rich started his first game at Upstate adding two assists in the battle. Kanye Jones also started in the matchup adding two points which was his first game as a starter since November 4, 2024. 

• Karmani Gregory's 22 point performance marked his fifth 20+ point performance and his fourth game on the year converting on three or more triples in a game. 

• Carmelo Adkins' 15 point performance marked his sixth game with 15+ points or more and his 15th double figure game. 

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.  

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