University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
0-1,0-0Big South
East Carolina
1-0,0-0American
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| USC Upstate | 32 | 38 | 70 |
| East Carolina | 44 | 39 | 83 |
11/2/2026 9:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
GREENVILLE, N.C. – USC Upstate men's basketball opened its 2026-27 campaign Monday night, falling to East Carolina, 83-70, inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum. Despite four Spartans reaching double figures and a strong offensive showing in the second half, the Pirates used an efficient performance from beyond the arc to secure the season-opening victory.
Jalyn Patterson led the Spartans offensively, finishing with a team-high 16 points while knocking down four three-pointers in 21 minutes off the bench. Ries Naugle followed closely behind with 15 points, connecting on six of his 12 attempts from the floor, including two shots from beyond the arc.
Miles Webb recorded Upstate's first double-double of the season, finishing with 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Amont'e Allen-Johnson helped facilitate the Spartan offense, dishing out a team-high seven assists while adding six points.
The Spartans got off to a quick start as Alessandro Perotti and Webb converted consecutive layups to give Upstate an early 4-0 advantage. East Carolina responded with an 11-1 stretch to take control, but Upstate answered with an 8-0 run of its own, capped by a three-point play from Naugle, to regain a 13-12 lead with 13:36 remaining in the opening half.
The two sides continued to trade baskets throughout the early stages of the contest, with Naugle connecting from beyond the arc to put the Spartans ahead 18-16 midway through the first half. However, East Carolina found its rhythm offensively, using its perimeter shooting to build a double-digit advantage.
The Pirates connected on nine three-pointers in the opening 20 minutes, including three from Trevor Best, to take a 44-32 advantage into the locker room.
East Carolina carried that momentum into the second half, opening the period with a 9-2 run to stretch its lead to 53-34. Despite facing a sizable deficit, the Spartans continued to battle, with Patterson connecting on consecutive three-pointers to provide an offensive spark.
Upstate found success attacking the basket throughout the second half, shooting 53.6 percent (15-of-28) from the floor while connecting on five three-pointers. A three-pointer from Naugle with 9:23 remaining cut the deficit to 13 points at 66-53, but the Pirates maintained their advantage down the stretch to secure the 83-70 victory.
As a team, the Spartans shot 49.2 percent (29-of-59) from the field and recorded 19 assists on 29 made baskets. Upstate controlled the interior offensively, outscoring East Carolina 40-20 in points in the paint, while also holding a 13-11 advantage in second-chance points.
East Carolina finished the contest shooting 47.4 percent from the field and 48.0 percent from three-point range, connecting on 12 of its 25 attempts from beyond the arc. Kaseem Watson led the Pirates with 17 points, while Cian Medley added 14 points and a game-high 11 assists.
Notables
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Jalyn Patterson led USC Upstate with 16 points, shooting 6-of-12 from the floor and 4-of-8 from three-point range.
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Miles Webb recorded the Spartans' first double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds, including eight defensive boards.
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Ries Naugle added 15 points and four rebounds while shooting 50.0 percent from the field.
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Amont'e Allen-Johnson dished out seven assists, accounting for more than a third of Upstate's 19 assists.
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Derek Edmond contributed six points, three assists and a team-high three steals in 29 minutes off the bench.
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Upstate finished with 40 points in the paint, doubling East Carolina's 20.
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The Spartans outscored the Pirates 38-39 in the second half? No — East Carolina held a narrow 39-38 advantage over the final 20 minutes.
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Upstate's bench contributed 24 points, including 16 from Patterson.
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The Spartans and Pirates finished even on the glass, with each team collecting 31 rebounds.
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Upstate shot 53.6 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from beyond the arc in the second half.
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The Spartans finished with 19 assists, marking an assist on 65.5 percent of their made field goals.
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East Carolina capitalized on 20 Upstate turnovers, converting them into 22 points.
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