In a shocking turn of events, South Carolina Upstate pulled off a stunning 65-60 upset over Longwood at the G.B. Hodge Center. The Spartans, despite being the lower-ranked team, managed to outlast the Lancers in a closely contested matchup. This victory is a significant upset, as Longwood was expected to come out on top, but South Carolina Upstate had other plans.
The game got off to a slow start, with both teams scoring 21 points in the first half. However, South Carolina Upstate's Karmani Gregory began to heat up in the second half, scoring 12 of his 19 points to help the Spartans take control. Gregory's performance was complemented by Carmelo Adkins, who chipped in with 18 points and 10 rebounds. The duo's efforts was too much for Longwood to handle, as the Spartans outscored the Lancers 44-39 in the second half.
Elijah Tucker was the standout performer for Longwood, posting an impressive 13 points and 12 rebounds. Despite Tucker's valiant effort, the Lancers were unable to overcome the Spartans' strong team performance. Jacoi Hutchinson and Emanuel Richards also made significant contributions for Longwood, scoring 12 and 9 points, respectively.
CHD Scout Report Card
CORRECTPredicted
Final
CHD Scout's pre-game prediction had South Carolina Upstate winning by a razor-thin margin of 0.1 points. While the predicted score was far off, the prediction of a Spartans victory was spot on. The actual margin of 5 points was a reflection of South Carolina Upstate's determination and grit.
This upset victory has real consequences for both teams' tournament chances. For South Carolina Upstate, the win is a much-needed boost to their resume, albeit a Quadrant 4 victory. The Spartans want to build on this momentum as they continue their season. On the other hand, Longwood's loss is a Quadrant 4 defeat, which may hurt their chances of making a strong case for a tournament bid.
The resume implications of this result are clear: South Carolina Upstate has taken a step in the right direction, while Longwood has taken a step back. The Spartans' victory over a team ranked higher than them in the net rankings will undoubtedly be a talking point when it comes to tournament selection time. As for Longwood, they must regroup and refocus in order to get their season back on track. The Lancers cannot afford to drop many more games, especially against lower-ranked opponents, if they hope to make a push for the tournament.