University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
East Carolina
10/31/2026 1:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – A new season of USC Upstate men's basketball is set to begin Monday evening as the Spartans travel to Greenville, North Carolina, to take on East Carolina in their 2026-27 season opener. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.
GAME INFORMATION
Matchup: USC Upstate (0-0) at East Carolina (0-0)
Date: Monday, November 2, 2026
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Greenville, N.C.
Venue: Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum
Watch: ESPN+ |Â https://tinyurl.com/4jhdbvcy
Listen: Fox Sports 98.3 FM
Live Stats:Â https://tinyurl.com/23yfbf4k
A LOOK AT THE SPARTANS
USC Upstate enters the 2026-27 season looking to build upon an offense that averaged 74.2 points per contest during the 2025-26 campaign. The Spartans scored 2,376 total points across 32 games, shooting 44.0 percent from the field and 32.8 percent from three-point range.
Upstate connected on 231 three-pointers last season, averaging 7.2 made triples per game. The Spartans also averaged 36.8 rebounds, 12.8 assists, 6.7 steals and 4.7 blocks per contest.
SCOUTING EAST CAROLINA
East Carolina enters Monday's contest under head coach Michael Schwartz after concluding the 2025-26 season with an 11-20 overall record and a 6-12 mark in American Conference play.
The Pirates averaged 71.5 points per game last season while allowing 77.5 points per contest. ECU shot 41.9 percent from the field and 28.8 percent from three-point range, connecting on 166 triples throughout the season.
On the glass, East Carolina averaged 36.5 rebounds per game while holding a slight plus-0.5 rebounding margin over its opponents. The Pirates also averaged 11.8 assists, 6.4 steals and 3.9 blocked shots per contest.
Monday's matchup will serve as the season opener for both programs, with the Pirates beginning a four-game homestand at Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum.
SERIES HISTORY
Monday's matchup marks the fourth all-time meeting between USC Upstate and East Carolina, with the Pirates holding a 2-1 advantage in the series.
The Spartans claimed the most recent meeting on November 15, 2023, earning an 83-81 victory over the Pirates.
Prior to that contest, East Carolina earned an 82-71 victory on December 4, 2015, and a 75-67 win on November 21, 2010.
Upstate will look to even the all-time series at two victories apiece with a win Monday evening.
UP NEXT
Following Monday's season opener, USC Upstate returns to Spartanburg for its home opener against South Carolina State on Friday, November 6. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. inside the G.B. Hodge Center.
The Spartans will then return to the road on Monday, November 9, traveling to Conway, South Carolina, for a matchup against Coastal Carolina.
Connect with the Spartans
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics
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