In a stunning upset, South Carolina Upstate (293 NET) toppled Presbyterian (267 NET) 76-74 at the G.B. Hodge Center, handing the Blue Hose their first loss of the season. The margin of victory was a slim two points, with the Spartans holding a 47-34 lead at halftime. However, Presbyterian staged a remarkable comeback in the second half, outscoring their opponents 40-29 and forcing overtime, only to fall short.
The implications of this upset are significant, as it alters the seeding landscape in the upcoming conference tournament. With Presbyterian's loss, the Blue Hose will likely drop in the NET rankings, while South Carolina Upstate's victory propels them up the seeding line. The final score and margin reveal a closely contested game, with both teams displaying resilience and determination in a battle that came down to the wire.
Karmani Gregory's performance was a driving force behind South Carolina Upstate's narrow victory. He led the team in scoring with 20 points, converting on 46.7% of his field goal attempts and 28.6% of his three-point attempts. Gregory also contributed with three assists, though he was relatively quiet on the glass with just one rebound.
Carmelo Adkins and Isaiah Skinner also played key roles in the win. Adkins chipped in with 16 points, grabbing five rebounds and dishing out three assists, while Skinner added 14 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Skinner's three three-pointers were particularly effective, as he connected on 60% of his attempts from beyond the arc.
Carl Parrish's 20-point performance was a bright spot for Presbyterian, but it ultimately fell short of propelling his team to victory. While he shot efficiently from the field and beyond the arc, his rebounding total was a modest one, and his limited defensive presence in the paint was a liability. Despite his efforts, Parrish's output was not enough to compensate for Presbyterian's overall defensive shortcomings.
Jonah Pierce and Jaylen Peterson both chipped in with respectable numbers, but neither player was able to assert significant control over the game's pace. Pierce's 14 points and eight rebounds were a decent effort, but his shooting percentage was a relatively modest 43.75%. Peterson's 14 points and six rebounds were also solid, but his lack of playmaking and defensive presence limited his overall impact.
The remainder of the Spartan and Blue Hose lineups generally adhered to their season averages, with no notable deviations from established trends.
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Final
The pre-game prediction was off the mark, as South Carolina Upstate secured a two-point victory, defying the forecast of a Presbyterian win by nearly a point. The discrepancy highlights the unpredictable nature of college basketball, where a single factor can sway the outcome. In this case, South Carolina Upstate's surge in shooting efficiency was the decisive factor.
The statistics suggest that South Carolina Upstate's ability to shoot at a higher effective field goal percentage (56.9% compared to Presbyterian's 55.1%) was a key differentiator. This uptick in shooting efficiency translated to the team's three-point shooting, where they notched a 37.5% conversion rate, a significant improvement over their season average of 32.2%. Furthermore, South Carolina Upstate's ability to secure a higher rate of offensive rebounds (31.0% compared to Presbyterian's 20.7%) allowed them to capitalize on second-chance opportunities, ultimately contributing to their win.
The outcome of this contest holds significant implications for both programs' NCAA Tournament aspirations. For South Carolina Upstate, this Quad 4 victory, coupled with its current NET ranking of #293, suggests that it will need to accumulate more quality wins in the remaining weeks of the season to secure a spot in the 68-team field. With a 0-7 record against Quad 1 and 2 opponents, the Spartans will likely be considered a 15-seed or lower if they were to receive an at-large bid. Presbyterian's loss, meanwhile, may have slightly damaged its NET ranking, now at #267, and its Quad 2 win count remains at a solitary victory. While Presbyterian still maintains a decent NET ranking, this setback, paired with a thin Quad 2 win ledger, makes its at-large bid prospects increasingly uncertain.
The Spartans' resume now appears woefully inadequate, a stark reminder that the path to the NCAA Tournament often hinges on a single, crucial win – or loss.