Game Info

Wednesday, Dec. 30 -- VS USC Upstate (0-8) (0-2) (Millis Center) 6:00 PM
Live Stats | Watch | Game Notes

Thursday, Dec. 31 -- VS USC Upstate (0-8) (0-2) (Millis Center) 6:00 PM

Live Stats | Watch | Game Notes

The High Point University men's basketball team (2-5) (0-2) returns to the Millis Center after four straight road games to host USC Upstate in a two-game Big South Conference series. (Dec 30, Dec 31.) The two upcoming games against the Spartans will be HPU's second Big South Conference series of the year and its first time hosting Big South conference games this season. Both teams are looking for their first Big South Conference wins of the season. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN+ and with both Wednesday and Thursday's games starting at 6:00 PM.

Matchup History 

• HPU is 3-1 against USC Upstate since becoming a D-1 program in 1999.
• The Panthers first met the Spartans in the D1 era during the 2018-19 season when USC Upstate joined the Big South.
• Coach Tubby Smith is 3-1 against USC Upstate all-time as a head coach. Smith only faces USC Upstate as the coach of HPU.
• The last time the two met was last season in the first round of the Big South Tournament, the Spartans were victorious 69-59. 

Across the Bench

• USC Upstate is searching for its first win of the season. The Spartans are coming off of an 80-60 loss to #8 Tennessee. The Volunteers only led by seven at the half. Tommy Bruner and Everette Hammond both ended the night in double digits. Bruner scored 18 points against Tennessee which was tied for the game-high. Hammond finished with 13. 
• USC Upstate is led by Dave Dickerson who is entering his third season as the head coach of The Spartans. 
• USC Upstate is 77th in the country in three-point field goals per game with an average of 8.8 per game and 49th in the nation in three-point percentage with an average of 38.3 per game. 
• Tommy Bruner leads USC Upstate in scoring as he averages 15 points per game.

Panther Notes

Slaying

• Denny Slay II put together an electrifying three-minute display off of the bench last time out against EKU. The Senior scored 12 points in about three minutes and brought the Panthers within ten of the Colonels in the second half.

Just Chillin!

• Bryson Childress played a big role in the first half against EKU as he scored eight points off of the bench. The freshman went 3-6 from the field and 2-5 from three. After scoring nine points total through the first five games of the season, Childress has 20 points in the last two games alone.

Cole World

• Eric Coleman Jr. was one of two Panthers in double digits against EKU on Dec. 22. Coleman scored ten points and brought in ten rebounds for the first Panther double-double of the season.

Panther Dunk Counter 

• Throughout the entire 2019-20 season, the Panthers totaled 24 dunks. After only six games, the Panthers already have 19 jams on this season.

Flydell

• Lydell Elmore has 11 dunks so far this season for The Purple and White, which leads the squad for jams made. 

Tubby All-Time Wins Tracker

• Coach Smith has 624 wins which currently ranks him 35th all-time in wins amongst D-1 coaches. 

#GoHPU