Preview: UNC Asheville at South Carolina Upstate

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Interstat) — Two Big South Conference men’s basketball teams seeking momentum will meet Wednesday when the South Carolina Upstate Spartans host the UNC Asheville Bulldogs at the G.B. Hodge Center.

Both teams enter with nearly identical records and recent struggles. The visiting Bulldogs are 8-12 overall, while the Spartans sit at 9-11. Each squad is coming off a narrow road loss in conference play this past Saturday, adding urgency to this midweek matchup.

UNC Asheville fell 69-67 to Winthrop, a game in which Kameron Taylor scored 26 points and Toyaz Solomon added 20. The Bulldogs have lost three of their last four, with all three defeats coming by three points or fewer. Guard Justin Wright has been a consistent offensive catalyst, averaging over 18 points per game in his last six contests. He scored 26 in a one-point loss at Presbyterian on Jan. 14.

South Carolina Upstate is looking to rebound from an 89-69 defeat at High Point. The Spartans’ recent results have been volatile, mixing a tough overtime win at Charleston Southern on Jan. 14 with several double-digit losses. Guard Carmelo Adkins has been a steady presence, scoring in double figures in five straight games, including a 16-point, 8-rebound performance against Radford to close December.

The game represents a critical opportunity for both teams to climb the Big South standings. The Bulldogs will aim to leverage the scoring balance shown in their recent close losses, while the Spartans will look to defend their home court, where they are 6-3 this season.

The teams will meet again in Asheville on Feb. 4.