Friday, January 27, 2012

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - USC Upstate (12-9; 6-3) is host to ETSU (10-9; 5-4) at the Hodge Center on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. in the CSS/A-Sun Game of the Week. The game can also be seen on ESPN3.com.

USC Upstate enters the contest in third place in the conference standings and are on a two-game win streak after beating Belmont and Lipscomb back-to-back on Jna. 21st and 23rd. The Spartans are the first team since Jacksonville two seasons ago to beat the Bruins and Bison consecutively. USC Upstate's win against Belmont was the first in program history.

The Spartans are led by the A-Sun's top scorer Torrey Craig (17.9 PPG), who has twice won the A-Sun Player of the Week honor. Craig notched his sixth double-double of the season with a 14-point, 12-rebound performance against the Bison.

The Bucs are currently tied for fourth place in the league standings and two games back of front runners Mercer and Belmont. ETSU holds an 8-1 all-time record against the Spartans. ETSU claimed the first contest this season with a 88-73 victory at home vs. the Spartans.

Matt Stewart (@Matt_StewartCSS) will be on the play-by-play and is joined courtside by Sonny Smith as the color commentator. The game can also be seen on ESPN3.com.

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