South Carolina Upstate Tops Presbyterian in Close Contest
Saturday, February 21, 2026, 5:05 PM ET · G.B. Hodge Center
South Carolina Upstate Spartans 76, Presbyterian Blue Hose 74, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Presbyterian Blue Hose vs South Carolina Upstate Spartans?
South Carolina Upstate Spartans beat Presbyterian Blue Hose 76-74 at G.B. Hodge Center on February 21, 2026.
Who was favored in Presbyterian Blue Hose vs South Carolina Upstate Spartans?
Presbyterian Blue Hose were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -118 (about 54% implied). The underdog won.
In a thrilling matchup, the South Carolina Upstate Spartans edged out the Presbyterian Blue Hose with a final score of 76-74 at the G.B. Hodge Center. This victory marks a crucial win for the Spartans, who have been struggling in their recent games, but managed to secure a much-needed triumph against their conference rival.
The Spartans entered the game with a home record of 12-17 and had been on a three-game losing streak, having lost their last match against the Winthrop Eagles 64-68 just two days prior. Over their last ten games, they had a record of 3-7, averaging 73.0 points scored while allowing 79.5 points per game. Their recent form had been concerning, particularly in their last five games, where they averaged 75.2 points scored and 83.0 points allowed, indicating defensive struggles.
On the other hand, the Blue Hose came into the game with a slightly better away record of 14-15 and were on a two-game winning streak, having defeated the Longwood Lancers 72-65 in their previous outing. Their last ten games showed a record of 6-4, with an average of 75.2 points scored and 73.5 points allowed. This performance suggested a more balanced offensive and defensive effort compared to the Spartans.
Historically, the matchup has favored the Blue Hose, who led the all-time series with a record of 2-1 against the Spartans. Their previous meetings this season included a loss for the Spartans on January 3rd, where they fell 77-86, and another loss on February 6th, ending 64-75. However, the Spartans had previously defeated the Blue Hose on January 9, 2025, with a score of 77-67, showcasing that they could compete well against this opponent.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any players missing for either team, which meant both squads were likely at full strength for this important conference clash.
The betting lines from DraftKings indicated a close contest, with Presbyterian favored by 1.5 points and the total set at 141.5. The odds reflected the tight nature of the matchup, as both teams were vying for critical positioning in the conference standings.
The game conditions were typical for a mid-February evening, with fans filling the G.B. Hodge Center, creating an electric atmosphere. The Spartans' home court advantage played a significant role in their performance, as they sought to turn around their recent fortunes.
As the game unfolded, it was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams exchanging leads throughout. Key moments included a series of free throws that kept the score tight. Notably, Carmelo Adkins contributed significantly to the Spartans' late-game efforts, making crucial free throws that brought the score to 70-69 in favor of South Carolina Upstate. Jonah Pierce's hook shot and Coen Collier's tip-in layup further extended the Spartans' lead to 74-71 before Karmani Gregory's driving layup capped off a strong finish, pushing the score to 76-71.
Presbyterian fought hard to narrow the gap, with Carl Parrish hitting a three-pointer late in the game to bring the score to 76-74. However, the Spartans held on for the victory, showcasing resilience in a tightly contested match.
Overall, this game was a testament to the competitive spirit of both teams, with South Carolina Upstate managing to claim a vital victory at home, potentially shifting the momentum as they head into the final stretch of the season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | PRES -1.5 | 141.5 o -108 / u -112 | Presbyterian Blue Hose -118 · South Carolina Upstate Spartans -102 |
Leaders
- PointsKarmani Gregory20South Carolina Upstate Spartans
- AssistsKarmani Gregory3South Carolina Upstate Spartans
- ReboundsCoen Collier9South Carolina Upstate Spartans
- PointsCarl Parrish20Presbyterian Blue Hose
- AssistsTriston Wilson4Presbyterian Blue Hose
- ReboundsJonah Pierce8Presbyterian Blue Hose
Recent form
South Carolina Upstate Spartans
Last 10: 3-7Streak L373 scored · 79.5 allowed per game2-2 at home
- L64-68at Winthrop EaglesFeb 19
- L75-82at Longwood LancersFeb 14
- L70-95vs High Point PanthersFeb 13
- W100-94vs Charleston Southern BuccaneersFeb 7
- L67-76at UNC Asheville BulldogsFeb 4
- W65-60vs Longwood LancersJan 30
- L65-67at Gardner-Webb Runnin' BulldogsJan 24
- L69-83vs UNC Asheville BulldogsJan 21
- L69-89at High Point PanthersJan 18
- W86-81at Charleston Southern BuccaneersJan 15
Presbyterian Blue Hose
Last 10: 6-4Streak W275.2 scored · 73.5 allowed per game2-2 away
- W72-65vs Longwood LancersFeb 20
- W58-57at UNC Asheville BulldogsFeb 14
- L67-84at Charleston Southern BuccaneersFeb 13
- W68-62vs Gardner-Webb Runnin' BulldogsFeb 7
- L84-93vs Radford HighlandersJan 31
- L81-84at High Point PanthersJan 30
- L72-82vs Winthrop EaglesJan 24
- W87-83vs Charleston Southern BuccaneersJan 22
- W92-55at Gardner-Webb Runnin' BulldogsJan 17
- W71-70vs UNC Asheville BulldogsJan 15
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Point | 31-5 | - | 15-1 |
| Winthrop | 23-11 | 2 | 13-3 |
| Radford | 16-16 | 6 | 9-7 |
| Longwood | 16-16 | 7 | 8-8 |
| UNC Asheville | 15-17 | 7 | 8-8 |
| Presbyterian | 15-18 | 8 | 7-9 |
| Charleston Southern | 15-17 | 9 | 6-10 |
| South Carolina Upstate | 13-19 | 10 | 5-11 |
| Gardner-Webb | 4-29 | 14 | 1-15 |
Box score
| Stat | Presbyterian Blue Hose | South Carolina Upstate Spartans |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 29-59 | 30-58 |
| Field goal % | 49 | 52 |
| Three-pointers | 7-15 | 6-16 |
| Three-point % | 47 | 38 |
| Free throws | 9-13 | 10-14 |
| Free throw % | 69 | 71 |
| Rebounds | 28 | 35 |
| Offensive rebounds | 8 | 11 |
| Defensive rebounds | 20 | 24 |
| Assists | 14 | 14 |
| Steals | 7 | 4 |
| Blocks | 5 | 6 |
| Turnovers | 7 | 11 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 8 | 14 |
| Fast-break points | 4 | 4 |
| Points in the paint | 38 | 40 |
| Fouls | 14 | 16 |
| Largest lead | 1 | 14 |
| Lead changes | 4 | 4 |
| Time in front | 3 | 96 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half31-42Karmani Gregory makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half31-43Karmani Gregory makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half31-44Carmelo Adkins makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half34-44Carl Parrish makes 23-foot three point jumper (Triston Wilson assists)
- 1st Half34-47Mason Bendinger makes 24-foot three point jumper (Karmani Gregory assists)
- 2nd Half36-47Jonah Pierce makes 9-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half36-49Breylin Garcia makes 7-foot floating jump shot (Carmelo Adkins assists)
- 2nd Half38-49Jonah Pierce makes 2-foot alley oop dunk (Carl Parrish assists)
- 2nd Half40-49Triston Wilson makes layup
- 2nd Half40-51Mason Bendinger makes layup
- 2nd Half43-51Josh Pickett makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jonah Pierce assists)
- 2nd Half43-54Karmani Gregory makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half43-57Karmani Gregory makes 25-foot three point jumper (Isaiah Skinner assists)
- 2nd Half46-57Carl Parrish makes 23-foot three point jumper (Triston Wilson assists)
- 2nd Half46-59Mason Bendinger makes 1-foot dunk
- 2nd Half48-59Jaylen Peterson makes layup (Triston Wilson assists)
- 2nd Half50-59Jaylen Peterson makes 5-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half52-59Jaylen Peterson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half52-62Isaiah Skinner makes 23-foot three point jumper (Karmani Gregory assists)
- 2nd Half54-62Carl Parrish makes 11-foot pullup jump shot (Josh Pickett assists)
- 2nd Half54-64Karmani Gregory makes 8-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half56-64Jaylen Peterson makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half59-64Josh Pickett makes 23-foot three point jumper (Carl Parrish assists)
- 2nd Half59-65Karmani Gregory makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-66Karmani Gregory makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-66Jaylen Peterson makes 7-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half62-66Jaylen Peterson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-66Jaylen Peterson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half65-66Jaylen Peterson makes 7-foot hook shot (Carl Parrish assists)
- 2nd Half65-68Carmelo Adkins makes layup
- 2nd Half67-68Jonah Pierce makes 6-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half68-68Carl Parrish makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-68Carl Parrish makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-69Carmelo Adkins makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-70Carmelo Adkins makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half71-70Jonah Pierce makes 5-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half71-72Coen Collier makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half71-74Isaiah Skinner makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half71-76Karmani Gregory makes driving layup
- 2nd Half74-76Carl Parrish makes 23-foot three point jumper (Josh Pickett assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours South Carolina Upstate Spartans, below favours Presbyterian Blue Hose.
Venue
- G.B. Hodge CenterSpartanburg, SC
- Attendance419
- OfficialsWilliam Humes, Connor Macdaid, Matthew LaGanke
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- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond