by Charleston, S.C. – Michael Buchanan (BlackFeet Tribe) recorded his second straight double-double as the USC Upstate men’s basketball team opened play at the Holy City Hoops Classic Friday afternoon with an 80-73 overtime victory against the Campbell Camels inside McAllister Field House.
Upstate improves to 4-4 on the season while Campbell falls to 3-4 overall.
Buchanan led the Spartans with 17 points and 14 rebounds, and was one of four players to finish in double-figures. Chris Clemons had a game-high 26 points to lead the Camels offensively.
GAME BREAKDOWN
- Campbell held an early 11-5 lead over Upstate at the 14:27 mark on a pair of free-throws by Kyre’ Hamer. The Camels led by as many seven points in the first half, 15-8, after Shane Whitfield connected on a layup.
- The Spartans came back to tie the score twice over the next five minutes and went ahead by six points late when a 3-pointer by Josh Cuthbertson extended Upstate’s lead to 32-26 with less than two minutes left before intermission.
- Campbell scored the final four points and cut the Spartans lead to 32-30 heading into halftime.
- The second half featured seven ties and six lead changes as the Camels extended their run to 13-0 out of the break and took the lead back at 39-32 with 18:48 remaining, tying their largest lead of the game.
- Upstate answered back with an 11-0 run over the next 2:31 and led 45-41 following a layup by Buchanan. Buchanan’s jumper would later increase the Spartans lead to 52-46 with 11:38 left.
- The score was tied five times over the final 10:28 as Upstate held a 70-65 advantage late when a 3-pointer by Ramel Thompkins at the 2:21 mark made it a five-point game.
- A 7-0 run, capped by Andrew Eudy’s layup with 20 seconds to go, put Campbell back in front 72-70. Mike Cunningham sent the game into overtime on his jumper with 10 seconds remaining.
- The Spartans limited the Camels to just one point in overtime and outscored them 8-1. All eight of Upstate’s points came at the free-throw line with Thompkins, Buchanan, Cunningham and Malik Moore all making at least one free-throw.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Buchanan recorded his second straight double-double in the contest, and now has three on the season and 13 for his career. The senior concluded the game shooting 7-of-11 from the field and now has three double-doubles in his last four games.
- Thompkins added 13 points and four assists, while Moore and Philip Whittington contributed 12 points each. Moore also had six rebounds while shooting 7-for-8 at the charity stripe, and Whittington went 5-of-7 from the field.
- Cuthbertson dished out a game-high five assists.
- Clemons was one of two from Campbell to post double-digits scoring with his 26 points as Whitfield added 12. Both players also grabbed a team-high six rebounds.
- The Spartans are now 2-0 this season in overtime games, both coming on the road, with the first taking place on Nov. 22 with a 108-103 triumph over Charlotte.
- Upstate finished the game shooting 43.3% (26-of-60) and out-rebounded the Camels 45-42.
- The Spartans also held a 30-28 advantage in points in the paint, 15-10 in second chance points and 32-18 in points from the bench.
UP NEXT
- Upstate continues play at the Holy City Hoops Classic on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 12 p.m. against The Citadel.
