Gardner-Webb Edges South Carolina Upstate 67-65 in Thriller
Friday, January 23, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · Paul Porter Arena
Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs 67, South Carolina Upstate Spartans 65, 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 South Carolina Upstate Spartans vs Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs?
Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs beat South Carolina Upstate Spartans 67-65 at Paul Porter Arena on January 23, 2026.
Who was favored in South Carolina Upstate Spartans vs Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs?
South Carolina Upstate Spartans were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -600 (about 86% implied). The underdog won.
In a tightly contested matchup, the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs narrowly defeated the South Carolina Upstate Spartans with a final score of 67-65 at the Paul Porter Arena. This victory marked a significant moment for Gardner-Webb, who improved their record to 4-19, while South Carolina Upstate fell to 9-14. The game showcased the resilience of the Bulldogs, who had been on a seven-game losing streak prior to this win.
Gardner-Webb's recent form had been troubling, as they entered the game with a record of 2-8 in their last ten outings. Their average points scored during this stretch was 68.7, but they had been allowing an average of 85.8 points per game, indicating a significant defensive struggle. In their last five games, Gardner-Webb had averaged just 63.4 points while conceding 92.8, highlighting their difficulties on both ends of the court.
Conversely, South Carolina Upstate had a record of 3-7 in their last ten games, with an average of 72.3 points scored and 77.5 points allowed. They entered the contest having lost their last two games, which included a 69-83 defeat to UNC Asheville on January 21. Their recent form had not been encouraging, as they averaged 70.2 points and allowed 82.0 points in their last five games.
In terms of home and away performance, Gardner-Webb had a home record of 3-8, while South Carolina Upstate had a 9-13 record overall, with a 2-4 mark in away games. This fixture was particularly noteworthy as Gardner-Webb had previously dominated their recent meetings with South Carolina Upstate, winning all three encounters in the 2025 season, including a decisive 97-68 victory on January 18, 2025.
Injuries were not highlighted in the provided information, but both teams had been struggling with consistency throughout the season, which may have affected their performance. The betting market had South Carolina Upstate favored by 9.5 points according to DraftKings, with a moneyline of -600 for the Spartans and +440 for the Bulldogs. The total points line was set at 153.5, reflecting expectations for a moderately high-scoring game.
The game conditions at Paul Porter Arena were not detailed, but the atmosphere was likely charged given the stakes for both teams. As the game unfolded, viewers were treated to a series of crucial scoring plays that defined the outcome. With the score tied at 65, Colin Hawkins made a driving layup to secure the win for Gardner-Webb, capping off a thrilling second half that saw both teams exchange leads.
Overall, this matchup was significant not only for the standings but also for Gardner-Webb's morale, as they snapped their losing streak in dramatic fashion against a rival team.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UPST -9.5 | 153.5 o -110 / u -110 | South Carolina Upstate Spartans -600 · Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs +440 |
Leaders
- PointsJacob Hogarth17Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs
- AssistsColin Hawkins3Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs
- ReboundsJacob Hogarth11Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs
- PointsKarmani Gregory22South Carolina Upstate Spartans
- AssistsKarmani Gregory2South Carolina Upstate Spartans
- ReboundsLearic Davis6South Carolina Upstate Spartans
Recent form
Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs
Last 10: 2-8Streak L768.7 scored · 85.8 allowed per game2-4 at home
- L56-91at Longwood LancersJan 22
- L55-92vs Presbyterian Blue HoseJan 17
- L80-89vs Radford HighlandersJan 15
- L49-104at High Point PanthersJan 8
- L77-88at Winthrop EaglesJan 3
- L79-89vs Charleston Southern BuccaneersDec 31
- L52-94at Tennessee VolunteersDec 21
- W105-65vs Toccoa Falls EaglesDec 18
- L57-83vs Wofford TerriersDec 16
- W77-63vs Brevard TornadosDec 13
South Carolina Upstate Spartans
Last 10: 3-7Streak L272.3 scored · 77.5 allowed per game2-4 away
- L69-83vs UNC Asheville BulldogsJan 21
- L69-89at High Point PanthersJan 18
- W86-81at Charleston Southern BuccaneersJan 15
- L50-71vs Winthrop EaglesJan 10
- L77-86at Presbyterian Blue HoseJan 3
- L69-76vs Radford HighlandersDec 31
- 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
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 | South Carolina Upstate Spartans | Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 21-56 | 26-60 |
| Field goal % | 38 | 43 |
| Three-pointers | 7-21 | 5-17 |
| Three-point % | 33 | 29 |
| Free throws | 16-22 | 10-13 |
| Free throw % | 73 | 77 |
| Rebounds | 34 | 40 |
| Offensive rebounds | 11 | 12 |
| Defensive rebounds | 23 | 28 |
| Assists | 11 | 7 |
| Steals | 3 | 8 |
| Blocks | 4 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 11 | 12 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 14 | 12 |
| Fast-break points | 4 | 8 |
| Points in the paint | 28 | 42 |
| Fouls | 17 | 19 |
| Largest lead | 13 | 5 |
| Lead changes | 10 | 10 |
| Time in front | 70 | 20 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half36-33Mason Bendinger makes driving layup
- 2nd Half36-34Jacob Hudson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half36-35Jacob Hudson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half37-35Learic Davis makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half38-35Learic Davis makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half39-35Carmelo Adkins makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half39-37Ace Talbert makes driving layup
- 2nd Half40-37Jafeth Martinez makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half41-37Jafeth Martinez makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half41-40Jamias Ferere makes 24-foot three point jumper (Colin Hawkins assists)
- 2nd Half43-40Learic Davis makes 7-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half43-42Spence Sims makes driving layup (Jacob Hudson assists)
- 2nd Half43-44Jacob Hogarth makes layup
- 2nd Half45-44Mason Bendinger makes driving layup
- 2nd Half45-46Colin Hawkins makes driving layup
- 2nd Half46-46Mason Bendinger makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half47-46Mason Bendinger makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half47-48Jacob Hogarth makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half48-48Carmelo Adkins makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half48-50Curtis Williams III makes layup
- 2nd Half49-50Karmani Gregory makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-50Karmani Gregory makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-52Riek Riek makes driving layup
- 2nd Half52-52Mason Bendinger makes 8-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half54-52Karmani Gregory makes layup (Mason Bendinger assists)
- 2nd Half54-55Riek Riek makes 24-foot three point jumper (Colin Hawkins assists)
- 2nd Half54-56Jacob Hogarth makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-56Carmelo Adkins makes driving layup
- 2nd Half57-56Learic Davis makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-56Learic Davis makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-58Jacob Hogarth makes layup
- 2nd Half59-58Carmelo Adkins makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-58Carmelo Adkins makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-59Jacob Hogarth makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-60Jacob Hogarth makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-62Jacob Hudson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half60-65Jamias Ferere makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jacob Hudson assists)
- 2nd Half63-65Karmani Gregory makes 27-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half65-65Breylin Garcia makes layup (Learic Davis assists)
- 2nd Half65-67Colin Hawkins makes driving layup
Win probability
Above the line favours Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs, below favours South Carolina Upstate Spartans.
Venue
- Paul Porter ArenaBoiling Springs, NC
- Attendance435
- OfficialsWilliam Humes, Eddie Shannon, Connor Penn
Elsewhere
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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