SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Rounding out the week down to their final five regular season games, Upstate Men's Basketball takes on Longwood for Saturday afternoon action in Farmville, Virginia where the Spartans look to rebound from Thursday's loss against High Point and collect their second Big South sweep on the season.
Saturday's Matchup
Saturday, February 14| 3:00 P.M. EST
USC Upstate (11-15; 3-8 Big South) vs. Longwood (13-14; 5-7 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: Longwood leads 8-7
Last five matchups: Jan. 29, 2026 (UPST 65; LW 60); Mar. 1, 2025 (LW 83; UPST 66); Jan. 25, 2025 (LW 80; UPST 54); Feb. 7, 2024 (UPST 69; LW 64); Jan. 17, 2024 (UPST 73; LW 71)
How they compare
|
USC Upstate
|
|
Longwood
|
|
75.7
|
Scoring Offense
|
76.3
|
|
74.5
|
Scoring Defense
|
72.9
|
|
1.2
|
Scoring Margin
|
3.4
|
|
.444
|
Field Goal Pct.
|
.465
|
|
.433
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Field Goal Pct. Defense
|
.444
|
|
.343
|
Three-Point FG Pct.
|
.305
|
|
.328
|
Three-Point FG Pct. Defense
|
.320
|
|
.683
|
Free Throw Pct.
|
.727
|
|
36.8
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Rebounds/Game
|
36.8
|
|
37.8
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Rebounds Against/Game
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31.6
|
|
-0.9
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Rebounding Margin
|
5.2
|
|
12.9
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Assists/Game
|
12.9
|
|
12.2
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Turnovers/Game
|
14.0
|
|
12.2
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Turnovers Forced/Game
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14.5
|
|
0.0
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Turnover Margin
|
0.5
|
|
6.5
|
Steals/Game
|
8.6
|
|
4.4
|
Blocks/Game
|
2.5
|
Last times out
February 12, 2026: High Point 95; USC Upstate 70
February 12, 2026: UNC Asheville 79; Longwood 74
Players to Watch
USC Upstate: Junior Guard, Mason Bendinger leads the Spartans averaging 15.3 points per game while shooting 46 percent from the field and leading Upstate with 14 game scoring 15+ points. Bendinger has been the perfect recipe for the Marty Richter system when Upstate needs a bucket on offense. Bendinger's scoring mentality has forced more teams to key in on his contributions, helping Bendinger boost his assists. The Spartans will look to Mason Bendinger in the Saturday matchup to be a force on both ends as Upstate looks for their second sweep in the Big South.
Longwood: Redshirt Senior, Elijah Tucker continues to be driving force on both ends for the Lancers as Longwood runs their system through Tucker. The Redshirt Senior from Canton, Georgia added a 13 point and 12 rebound statline in the first matchup at Upstate, then followed with two consecutive 21-point outings against Gardner-Webb and Charleston Southern. The strength of Tucker in the post causes many defenses to have to key on his game as he plays more of a traditional forward role, only attempting one three-pointer on the season. As Tucker returns to the court for another battle, the Lancers will lean on his production.
Up next for the Spartans
Following Saturday's battle in Farmville, Virginia, Upstate Men's Basketball travels to Rock Hill, South Carolina for a Thursday night showdown at Winthrop with tipoff scheduled at 6:30 P.M. Eastern time.
Connect with the Spartans
Facebook.com/UpstateAthletics
Twitter | @UpstateMBB | @UpstateSpartans
Instagram | @Upstate_MBB | @UpstateSpartans
YouTube.com/UpstateSpartans
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