Spartanburg, S.C. – The Brevard College men’s basketball team stepped out of NCAA Division II play on Thursday night, as they traveled to Spartanburg, S.C. to do battle with the USC-Upstate Spartans, who are currently in transition to the NCAA Division I level. The Spartans used a 22-2 run midway through the second half to pull away and defeat the Tornados, 78-54.

 

The loss drops BC to 1-7 on the year, while the Spartans picked up their first win of the season and improves to 1-7 overall.

 

BC played perhaps their best game of the season on Thursday night, as they battled the Spartans toe-to-toe for all but a little over four minutes in the second half, keeping the home team on the ropes.

 

For the second straight game, the Tornados fell behind early but played well in the opening half to keep within striking distance of USC-Upstate. The Tornados cut the Spartans lead to six points, 23-17, at the 6:58 mark, but couldn’t get any closer as the Spartans hit seven three-pointers to take the 35-24 lead into the halftime break.

 

Coach Jones’ squad came out in the second half and once again cut the lead into single digits, cutting it down as low as six points at the 15:58 mark. However, the starting at the 13:55 mark in the second period, the next four plus minutes belonged to the Spartans as they went on a 22-2 run to put away the Tornados and take a 66-34 lead.

 

The Spartans would push the lead to 30 at the 8:05 mark; however, the Tornados would not give in and fought hard until the final horn blew with a 78-54 final.

 

Sophomore forward Jonathan Whitson battled hard all-night against players two and three inches taller than him to score 20 points and pull down five rebounds. 

 

Junior forward Joseph Chilton was the only other BC player in double-digit figures with 11 points, while fellow classmate Sean Ferretti led the Tornados in rebounding, pulling down six boards.

 

Upstate had four players in double-figures led by Luke Payne’s 14 points. Gabor Boros and Mezie Uzochukwu had 12 points apiece, while Josh Chavis recorded 11 points in the Spartans home debut.

 

The Tornados will return home and look to put an end to their current three-game losing streak this Saturday afternoon, December 8, as they will host Erskine College at 5 p.m. This is the last game for BC in the 2007 calendar year, as their next game will not come until January 3, 2008, when they will host Virginia Intermont College at 8 p.m.

 

###