SC Upstate defeats SC State 72-78
SC Upstate Edges Out SC State in Thrilling Non-Conference Showdown
The Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center was electric on Tuesday night as the visiting South Carolina Upstate Spartans (78) emerged victorious over the home-state Bulldogs (72) in a tightly contested non-conference matchup.
Going into the game, it was clear that this was more than just another neutral-site battle. The two teams are from different parts of the state, with SC State looking to prove themselves at home against an opponent that had already beaten them on the road last season. In the end, it was the Spartans' balanced attack and stifling defense that gave them the edge.
At halftime, the Spartans trailed by just one point (40-37), but they would go on to outscore SC State in the second half 38-35 to take a six-point lead into the final minutes. The Bulldogs threatened to close the gap, but the Spartans' defense held strong, limiting their opponents to just two points over the final 2:30.
Mason Bendinger led the Spartans in scoring with 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field. Learic Davis chipped in with eight points and nine rebounds, while Karmani Gregory dished out four assists to complement his own 12 points.
For SC State, Owen Bronston Jr. was the clear focal point, scoring 16 points off 2-for-7 three-point shooting. Chris Parker added seven rebounds and 15 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Spartans' balanced attack.
In terms of advanced statistics, both teams performed well on the glass, with SC State holding a slight edge in rebounding (23-30). However, it was the Spartans who excelled on offense, boasting an effective field goal percentage (eFG%) of 58.5 and a true shooting percentage of 60.9.
The win marks a significant boost for South Carolina Upstate, which has been working to build momentum after a tough non-conference schedule so far. Meanwhile, SC State will look to bounce back from this tough loss in their home arena.
Game Stats
SC State (HOME)
* Field Goals: 28/55 (51.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 21/37 (56.8%)
* 3-Point FG: 7/18 (39.0%)
* Free Throws: 9/13 (69.0%)
* Rebounds: 23
* Assists: 10
* Turnovers: 12
* Steals: 6
* Blocks: 3
SC Upstate (AWAY)
* Field Goals: 27/53 (51.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 19/32 (59.4%)
* 3-Point FG: 8/21 (38.0%)
* Free Throws: 16/25 (64.0%)
* Rebounds: 30
* Assists: 15
* Turnovers: 11
* Steals: 6
* Blocks: 2