Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Spartans Pull Away From Presbyterian 67-61

SPARTANBURG, SC – USC Upstate fell behind early but worked effectively against the Blue Hose zone and took a 67-61 victory Tuesday night in the G.B. Hodge Center.

USC Upstate improves to 3-1 on the year, while Presbyterian falls to 1-2.  The Spartans will take on North Greenville Saturday at 3:00 p.m. in the Hodge Center.

Presbyterian scored eight unanswered points to start the game and increased the lead to 17-5 with 12:15 to play, using solid cuts to the basket on offense and a stifling zone on defense to take the 12-point lead. USC Upstate missed nine shots during the span and made just two, a jumper and layup by Charleston Long.

However, the Spartans began to figure out the PC zone and used a 23-10 run to take its first lead of the ball game, 28-27, with 45 seconds to play in the half.  USC Upstate closed out the half with four unanswered points to take a 32-27 lead into the locker room.

Presbyterian shot 43.5% from the floor in the first half, while USC Upstate hit 40.0% from the field.  The Spartans hit just 4-of-17 three-pointers in the opening 20 minutes as the Blue Hose prevented the Spartans from pounding the ball inside.

In the second half, Presbyterian opened the half with an 8-3 run to tie the game with 13:52 to play.  However, USC Upstate used an effective high-low post game to go on a 13-0 run capped by a three-pointer from Luke Payne to take a 48-35 lead with 9:15 to play in the game.  The Spartans pushed the lead to as many as 16 points before Presbyterian attempted to chip away at the lead.

PC cut the lead to nine points, 62-53, on a three-pointer by Pat Kiscaden with 1:07 to play and hit two three-pointers in the final 28 seconds, but the game was already sealed for the Spartans.

Long led USC Upstate with 13 points and five rebounds, while Richie Stevens had a solid all around game with 10 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals.  C.J. Paul added eight points, six assists, and three steals for the Spartans.

Sean Dixon led Presbyterian with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Tray Ballenger added 15 points and four rebounds.  Johann Collins finished with eight points and a game-high 11 rebounds for the Blue Hose.