Preview: Longwood Lancers at South Carolina Upstate Spartans

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Interstat) — A pair of Big South Conference men’s basketball teams looking to build momentum will meet Thursday when the Longwood Lancers visit the South Carolina Upstate Spartans at the G.B. Hodge Center.

Longwood (12-10) enters on a two-game winning streak, including an 81-79 overtime victory over Charleston Southern last Friday. The Lancers have shown a potent offense in their recent wins, averaging 86 points in those two contests.

The Lancers are led by forward Elijah Tucker, who is coming off a 21-point performance against Charleston Southern and has scored 17 or more points in four of his last five games. Tucker posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds in a Jan. 10 win over Presbyterian, showcasing his versatility.

South Carolina Upstate (9-13) seeks to halt a three-game skid, most recently falling 67-65 at Gardner-Webb last Friday. The Spartans have struggled defensively during the losing streak, allowing an average of 80 points per game.

Spartans guard Karmani Gregory will be a key factor. He scored a team-high 22 points in the narrow loss to Gardner-Webb and has been a consistent scorer, reaching double figures in five of his last seven outings.

The matchup features contrasting recent trajectories. Longwood has won three of its last five conference games, while Upstate has lost five of its last six. Both teams are in the middle of the Big South standings and will be competing for positioning with the conference tournament approaching.

This is the first of two scheduled meetings between the teams this season. They are slated to play again at Longwood on Feb. 14.

For Longwood, the game begins a stretch of three road contests in four games. South Carolina Upstate continues a homestand before hitting the road for its next two.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST Thursday.