Upstate Bitten By Bulldogs In Midweek Matchup

In the last week, USC Upstate has had plenty to feel good about in spite of a tough start to conference play. The Spartans picked up their first Big South win on the road down at Charleston Southern last Wednesday, holding one of the nation’s leading 3-point shooting teams to just 8 of 26 from long distance and overcame a late 8-point deficit en route to an 86-81 overtime triumph. Learic Davis, who has earned a spot in the starting lineup lately with some stellar play, tied for the team lead in points with a career-high 22 to go with 8 rebounds and a pair of steals. Mason Bendinger also logged 22 points with 5 boards, a blocked shot, and a steal while Karmani Gregory contributed with 14 points and a pair of assists and Carmelo Adkins notched 13 with 9 rebounds and a steal.

This past Saturday marked the first instance of back to back road games in the conference slate for the Spartans, traveling up to High Point and hoping to ride the momentum from Wednesday’s victory to a big upset in a hostile environment. In the end, Upstate got both the expected result as well as the most ideal outcome for them in a game where they were simply outmatched. The Spartans managed to be competitive, staying in striking distance about 75% of the way. At the under 12 media timeout of the 2nd half, the game was in a 53 all deadlock, but down the stretch High Point’s talent and depth took over as they outscored the Spartans 36-16 to pull away for an 89-69 win.

Davis led all USC Upstate scorers against the Panthers with 17 points, 5 rebounds, and an assist. He was part of a trio to log double figures that also included Adkins (15 points, 4 boards, 3 assists, and a steal), and Bendinger (11 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast, block).

Wednesday night, the Spartans returned home to the Hodge Center for the first installation of the Ingles I-26 Rivalry series between Upstate and UNC Asheville (8-12, 2-4 Big South) on the hardwoods this season. As has been the story so many times lately, the Spartans found themselves in an early hole and playing catch up for much of the first half.

After the Bulldogs secured the opening tip, DJ Patrick started the scoring almost immediately with a three off a quick pass from Justin Wright. Upstate came up empty on their first possession with a missed jumper for three from Karmani Gregory, setting the tone for an 0-4 start from the field as a team. Asheville extended their lead to 5-0 before the Spartans finally cracked the goose egg on a layup from Mason Bendinger at the 18:06 mark. By the first media stoppage, the Spartans were 2 for 6 from the deck while Asheville hit on four of their first six shot attempts, making for a 10-5 advantage.

The Bulldogs opened up their largest lead of the opening half at 7 points ahead of the under 8, but went cold shortly thereafter, allowing the Spartans to chip away. In the midst of the 3 and a quarter minute Asheville scoreless skid, USC Upstate went on a 7-0 run, eventually equalizing the game at 21-all at the 6:10 mark on a wide open layup off an offensive board and long pass to Bendinger. Asheville responded by breaking the skid with a Kam Taylor free throw that sparked a 5-2 push. Still, the Spartans fought back, once again evening the fight at 30 ahead of the under 4 break on another Bendinger layup. But that would be the final points of the half as Upstate reciprocated the 3:15 scoreless skid that Asheville went on earlier, allowing the Bulldogs to go on a 6-0 run to close out the period and making for a 36-30 deficit at the interval.

“We did not close the half out and they went on a 6-0 run over the last three minutes. We did not close out the half and found ourselves playing catch up from that point on”, said USC Upstate Head Coach Marty Richter of the way the first half ended. “We were playing catch up when they got up 19-14 after it was tied at 12. They went on a 7-2 run and we played catch up to get it back to 30-all. At that point, I thought it would be alright and our guys would settle in and close out the half – which we have done most of the year. We have closed out halves and tonight, we didn’t, which cost us.”

Out of the break, the 2 sides continued to trade baskets and the Spartans continued to play into the Bulldogs’ hands by having to try and keep pace or catch up. Both teams tallied 8 points over the first three minutes. But as was the tale of the first half, so too became the 2nd. Asheville had a 1:37 streak without a basket in which USC Upstate went on a brief 5-0 spurt. That scoreless stretch would extend another minute –  however, the Spartans were unable to take advantage, instead turning the ball over twice before a midrange jumper from Toyaz Solomon flipped the script.

Ahead of the under-8, the Spartans found themselves in the midst of a 2 minute, 17 second scoreless skid in which the Bulldogs put together an 8-0 run that all but did Upstate in, pushing the UNCA lead to 10. Down the home stretch, they outscored the Spartans 23-19, taking the first leg of the 2026 edition of the I-26 rivalry 83-69.

“Tip of the cap to Coach {Mike} Morrell”, said Richter following the game. “He did a heck of a job and had a great game plan. He does a really good job of getting his guys to get downhill and force you to make a decision. Like ‘do we come and trap or do we play one-on-one?’ Asheville did a good job of taking advantage of our weakness tonight and they stuck with their plan all game long. Kameron Taylor and Justin Wright were terrific. There were 47 points between the two of them. They outplayed our backcourt. Throw in Toyaz Solomon, who had 15 – basically their big 3 outplayed our leading scorers. When that happens, you don’t typically win games. We have to do a better job of putting out the fire once we figure out what they are doing.”

Upstate shot 27 for 61 from the field and 7 of 21 from beyond the arch and went to the charity stripe just 15 times, going 8 for 15. The free throw discrepancy was also a huge factor. Asheville went to the line 22 times, going 17-22 to complement their 29-56 effort from the field that included an 8 for 15 game from three point range.

“In the first half, we went 7 for 14 at the rim. You cannot be at 50 percent at the rim and win in this league”, Richter stated with brutal honesty when breaking down his team’s effort from the deck. “The other team is too good. UNC Asheville did not miss that many of them. We did, and you are going to lose when you have that.”

The Spartans were led by Bendinger with 28 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocked shots. Gregory was the only other to put up a double, tallying 16 points to go with a board, 2 assists, and a pair of steals. The next closest scorers were Tyler Smith and Isaiah Skinner, each with 6 points and three assists, Smith also adding 2 steals and a board while Skinner had 4 rebounds and 3 swipes.

With back to back losses, USC Upstate falls to 9-12 on the season and 1-5 in the Big South Conference. The Spartans will have a quick turnaround to prepare for their next contest that was originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Instead, due to the threat of wintery weather Saturday night into Sunday morning, the game against the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs will be played on Friday night.

“We need to play desperate”, said Richter when asked what his team needs to do in order to get back on track against GWU. “That is the only way you are going to win in this league. We have to lock in to what they are doing and not give them ‘scouting report points’. Coaches are going to come up with new things, but at the end of the day, they are still going to run the same stuff over and over both offensively and defensively. The question is – can you look at what is on the scouting report and execute it?”

Upstate will try to channel that desperation energy Friday night with the contest set to tip off at 7:00 PM at Paul Porter Arena in Boiling Springs, NC.