Radford Highlanders Defeat South Carolina Upstate Spartans 76-69
Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 2:00 PM ET · G.B. Hodge Center
Radford Highlanders 76, South Carolina Upstate Spartans 69, 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 Radford Highlanders vs South Carolina Upstate Spartans?
Radford Highlanders beat South Carolina Upstate Spartans 76-69 at G.B. Hodge Center on December 31, 2025.
Who was favored in Radford Highlanders vs South Carolina Upstate Spartans?
South Carolina Upstate Spartans were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -122 (about 55% implied). The underdog won.
In an exciting NCAAB matchup, the Radford Highlanders secured a 76-69 victory over the South Carolina Upstate Spartans at the G.B. Hodge Center. Both teams entered the game with identical records of 8-8, making the contest particularly significant as they vied for momentum in the season. The Highlanders' win marked their third consecutive victory, while the Spartans faced their second consecutive loss, highlighting the contrasting trajectories of the two teams in their recent form.
The Spartans had a mixed performance in their last ten games, finishing with a record of 5-5. They averaged 75.9 points per game while allowing 73.3 points. In their most recent outing on December 20, they lost to the Youngstown State Penguins with a score of 65-74. Prior to that, they had a strong showing against the Southern Wesleyan Warriors, winning 98-63. However, the Spartans have struggled on the road, with a 1-4 away record in their last five games, compared to a solid 4-1 record at home.
Conversely, the Highlanders also posted a 5-5 record in their last ten games but have recently found their rhythm, winning their last two matches. They averaged a remarkable 84.3 points per game while allowing 77.7 points. Their latest victory was a resounding 87-44 win against the Shenandoah Hornets on December 28. The Highlanders have been particularly dominant at home, boasting a 5-2 record, but have struggled away, with an 0-3 record in their last three road games.
In terms of head-to-head matchups, Radford has had the upper hand over South Carolina Upstate this season, winning both previous meetings. The Highlanders defeated the Spartans 79-69 on February 1 and 80-67 on January 11, indicating a clear advantage in their encounters.
Injury reports showed that both teams were relatively healthy, which allowed them to field their strongest lineups. This factor contributed to the competitive nature of the game, as both teams were eager to make a statement.
The betting market reflected a tight contest, with DraftKings listing the Spartans as 1.5-point favorites, indicating a closely matched game. The total points were set at 158.5, suggesting expectations of a high-scoring affair given both teams' offensive capabilities.
The game conditions were conducive to a thrilling matchup, with both teams showcasing their offensive prowess. Fans were treated to a back-and-forth battle, with the Highlanders ultimately pulling away in the second half. Key moments included Lukas Walls making crucial free throws, extending Radford's lead, and Karmani Gregory's impressive three-point jumper that kept the Spartans at bay.
As the game concluded, the Highlanders celebrated their victory, while the Spartans faced the challenge of regrouping after consecutive losses. The outcome not only impacted the standings but also set the stage for future encounters as both teams look to improve their records as the season progresses.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UPST -1.5 | 158.5 o -115 / u -105 | Radford Highlanders +102 · South Carolina Upstate Spartans -122 |
Leaders
- PointsCarmelo Adkins16South Carolina Upstate Spartans
- AssistsMason Bendinger3South Carolina Upstate Spartans
- ReboundsCarmelo Adkins8South Carolina Upstate Spartans
- PointsDennis Parker Jr.24Radford Highlanders
- AssistsJaylon Johnson3Radford Highlanders
- ReboundsTyson Brown11Radford Highlanders
Recent form
South Carolina Upstate Spartans
Last 10: 5-5Streak L175.9 scored · 73.3 allowed per game4-1 at home
- L65-74at Youngstown State PenguinsDec 20
- W98-63vs Southern Wesleyan WarriorsDec 18
- W78-72at South Carolina State BulldogsDec 16
- L62-80at North Carolina Tar HeelsDec 13
- W78-67vs Western Carolina CatamountsDec 6
- W85-78vs Coastal Carolina ChanticleersDec 4
- L63-72at Nebraska CornhuskersNov 29
- W82-67vs North Carolina Central EaglesNov 26
- L64-72at West Georgia WolvesNov 22
- L84-88vs Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesNov 20
Radford Highlanders
Last 10: 5-5Streak W284.3 scored · 77.7 allowed per game0-3 away
- W87-44vs Shenandoah HornetsDec 28
- W97-90vs VMI KeydetsDec 21
- L83-96at William & Mary TribeDec 19
- W107-77vs Coppin State EaglesDec 14
- W89-56vs Saint Francis Red WolvesDec 7
- L75-82vs Southern Miss Golden EaglesDec 4
- W102-75vs Notre Dame (MD) GatorsNov 29
- L72-89at SMU MustangsNov 25
- L73-81vs UNC Wilmington SeahawksNov 22
- L58-87at South Carolina GamecocksNov 19
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 | Radford Highlanders | South Carolina Upstate Spartans |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 26-58 | 26-66 |
| Field goal % | 45 | 39 |
| Three-pointers | 7-22 | 5-18 |
| Three-point % | 32 | 28 |
| Free throws | 17-24 | 12-16 |
| Free throw % | 71 | 75 |
| Rebounds | 37 | 41 |
| Offensive rebounds | 10 | 15 |
| Defensive rebounds | 27 | 26 |
| Assists | 11 | 12 |
| Steals | 8 | 9 |
| Blocks | 5 | 7 |
| Turnovers | 14 | 14 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 10 | 12 |
| Fast-break points | 15 | 9 |
| Points in the paint | 36 | 38 |
| Fouls | 16 | 21 |
| Largest lead | 13 | 3 |
| Lead changes | 8 | 8 |
| Time in front | 71 | 14 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half44-37Dennis Parker Jr. makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jaylon Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half46-37Dennis Parker Jr. makes 3-foot dunk (Jaylon Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half48-37Lukas Walls makes layup
- 2nd Half48-39Carmelo Adkins makes layup
- 2nd Half48-40Tyler Smith makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-41Tyler Smith makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half49-41Jaylon Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-41Jaylon Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-44Carmelo Adkins makes 23-foot three point jumper (Mason Bendinger assists)
- 2nd Half50-45Mason Bendinger makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-47Mason Bendinger makes 9-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half53-47Jaylon Johnson makes 23-foot three point jumper (Dennis Parker Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half53-49Mason Bendinger makes layup
- 2nd Half54-49Dennis Parker Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-49Dennis Parker Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-49Dennis Parker Jr. makes layup (Mari Jordan assists)
- 2nd Half59-49Lukas Walls makes layup
- 2nd Half60-49Lukas Walls makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half60-51Karmani Gregory makes 9-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half62-51Tyson Brown makes layup
- 2nd Half62-53Karmani Gregory makes layup
- 2nd Half64-53Del Jones makes 10-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half66-53Del Jones makes 17-foot jumper
- 2nd Half66-55Learic Davis makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half67-55Del Jones makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half68-55Del Jones makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-56Learic Davis makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half68-57Learic Davis makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-59Carmelo Adkins makes layup
- 2nd Half68-62Karmani Gregory makes 23-foot three point jumper (Mason Bendinger assists)
- 2nd Half70-62Tyson Brown makes 3-foot dunk (Lukas Walls assists)
- 2nd Half70-64Mason Bendinger makes layup
- 2nd Half71-64Lukas Walls makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-64Lukas Walls makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-66Karmani Gregory makes 3-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half73-66Jaylon Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half74-66Dennis Parker Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half75-66Dennis Parker Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half75-69Karmani Gregory makes 24-foot three point jumper (Tyler Smith assists)
- 2nd Half76-69Jaylon Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours South Carolina Upstate Spartans, below favours Radford Highlanders.
Venue
- G.B. Hodge CenterSpartanburg, SC
- OfficialsCorey Haney, Jon Riggsbee, Connor Macdaid
Elsewhere
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- 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