CLINTON, S.C. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum to open the new year will meet Saturday when the South Carolina Upstate Spartans visit the Presbyterian Blue Hose in a Big South Conference men’s basketball matchup at the Templeton Center.

The Spartans (8-8) and Blue Hose (7-8) enter league play with nearly identical records and recent stretches of inconsistent results. South Carolina Upstate looks to rebound from a 76-69 home loss to Radford on Wednesday, a game in which Carmelo Adkins led the team with 16 points and eight rebounds. Adkins, a key player for the Spartans, has shown flashes of high production, including a 14-point performance in a win over Western Carolina earlier in December.

Presbyterian is coming off a dominant 91-64 victory over non-Division I Truett-McConnell on Sunday. Forward Jonah Pierce was instrumental in that win, recording a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Pierce has been a force for the Blue Hose, posting double-doubles in three of his last four games, including a 21-point, 11-rebound effort in a narrow loss at Manhattan.

Both teams have faced challenging non-conference slates. The Spartans’ schedule included a road loss at North Carolina, while Presbyterian endured a West Coast swing with losses at UCLA and California. Their performances against common opponents offer little separation; each suffered a loss to Radford, though Presbyterian’s meeting with the Highlanders comes next week.

The game will hinge on interior play and which team can establish consistency. Pierce’s rebounding prowess for Presbyterian will test a Spartans frontcourt that allowed Radford to control the glass. For South Carolina Upstate, generating offense beyond Adkins will be critical. In the loss to Radford, Mason Bendinger and Karmani Gregory also scored 16 points each, providing necessary balance.

Saturday’s contest marks the conference opener for both programs, setting an early tone for their Big South campaigns. The Spartans aim to improve their road record, while the Blue Hose look to protect their home court in Clinton. Tipoff is set for Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026.