Radford Highlanders Defeat South Carolina Upstate Spartans 71-59
Thursday, February 26, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · The Dedmon Center
Radford Highlanders 71, South Carolina Upstate Spartans 59, 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 Radford Highlanders?
Radford Highlanders beat South Carolina Upstate Spartans 71-59 at The Dedmon Center on February 26, 2026.
Who was favored in South Carolina Upstate Spartans vs Radford Highlanders?
Radford Highlanders were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -355 (about 78% implied). The favorite won.
In a decisive matchup, the Radford Highlanders triumphed over the South Carolina Upstate Spartans with a final score of 71-59. This victory marks the fourth consecutive win for Radford against Upstate, extending their head-to-head record to 3-0 over the past two seasons. The Highlanders have shown a consistent ability to outperform the Spartans in their recent encounters, having previously secured victories with scores of 76-69, 79-69, and 80-67 in the last three meetings.
Radford entered the game with a home record of 16-14, while the Spartans had an away record of 12-18. The Highlanders have had a mixed performance recently, holding a 5-5 record in their last ten games, but they faced a setback with a loss in their most recent outing against the UNC Asheville Bulldogs, 73-74. Despite this, Radford averaged 82.0 points scored and allowed 80.1 points during that stretch, indicating a high-scoring style of play. In their last five games, they managed to score an average of 80.0 points while allowing 78.0 points.
On the other hand, South Carolina Upstate had a challenging recent run, recording a 3-7 record in their last ten games and winning only one of their last five. They managed to secure a win against the Presbyterian Blue Hose, 76-74, in their latest game, but prior to that, they had suffered losses, including a significant 70-95 defeat to the High Point Panthers. The Spartans averaged 72.0 points scored and allowed 78.8 points in their last ten games, with a scoring average of 77.0 points and an average of 82.6 points allowed in their last five.
The game took place at The Dedmon Center, where Radford has maintained a solid home advantage. The Highlanders' home record reflects their capability to perform well in familiar surroundings, while the Spartans struggled on the road, holding an away record of 0-5 in their last five away games.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any significant player absences that affected either team for this matchup. This absence of injury concerns allowed both teams to field their regular lineups.
The betting odds from DraftKings indicated Radford as the favorites, with a spread of -7.5 and a moneyline of -355. South Carolina Upstate was listed with a moneyline of +280, reflecting the market's expectation of a Radford victory. The total points for the game was set at 152.5, suggesting a high-scoring affair, which aligned with both teams' recent offensive outputs.
The game was characterized by a series of scoring plays that highlighted the Highlanders' ability to maintain control in the second half. Key moments included free throws by Lukas Walls and Del Jones, as well as a layup from Mari Jordan that helped secure Radford's lead. The Highlanders' defense was also crucial, limiting the Spartans' scoring opportunities and maintaining a comfortable margin as the game progressed.
Overall, this matchup was significant not only for the standings but also for the historical context of the rivalry between Radford and South Carolina Upstate. The Highlanders' ability to continue their winning streak against the Spartans will serve as a confidence booster as they approach the end of the season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | RAD -7.5 | 152.5 o -112 / u -108 | South Carolina Upstate Spartans +280 · Radford Highlanders -355 |
Leaders
- PointsLukas Walls16Radford Highlanders
- AssistsLukas Walls2Radford Highlanders
- ReboundsMari Jordan6Radford Highlanders
- PointsCarmelo Adkins15South Carolina Upstate Spartans
- AssistsCarmelo Adkins7South Carolina Upstate Spartans
- ReboundsJafeth Martinez9South Carolina Upstate Spartans
Recent form
Radford Highlanders
Last 10: 5-5Streak L182 scored · 80.1 allowed per game3-2 at home
- L73-74at UNC Asheville BulldogsFeb 21
- W82-70vs Gardner-Webb Runnin' BulldogsFeb 20
- W90-80vs Charleston Southern BuccaneersFeb 14
- L77-86at High Point PanthersFeb 8
- L78-80vs Winthrop EaglesFeb 5
- W93-84at Presbyterian Blue HoseJan 31
- W84-75at Charleston Southern BuccaneersJan 30
- L83-93vs High Point PanthersJan 24
- L75-76at Winthrop EaglesJan 21
- W85-83vs Longwood LancersJan 17
South Carolina Upstate Spartans
Last 10: 3-7Streak W172 scored · 78.8 allowed per game0-5 away
- W76-74vs Presbyterian Blue HoseFeb 21
- 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
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 | Radford Highlanders |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 25-67 | 22-51 |
| Field goal % | 37 | 43 |
| Three-pointers | 4-22 | 10-22 |
| Three-point % | 18 | 45 |
| Free throws | 5-7 | 17-24 |
| Free throw % | 71 | 71 |
| Rebounds | 42 | 34 |
| Offensive rebounds | 17 | 8 |
| Defensive rebounds | 25 | 26 |
| Assists | 11 | 9 |
| Steals | 9 | 7 |
| Blocks | 8 | 9 |
| Turnovers | 15 | 12 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 1 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 13 | 21 |
| Fast-break points | 10 | 10 |
| Points in the paint | 34 | 20 |
| Fouls | 19 | 13 |
| Largest lead | 5 | 14 |
| Lead changes | 7 | 7 |
| Time in front | 33 | 53 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half32-29Learic Davis makes 0-foot dunk
- 2nd Half32-32Lukas Walls makes 23-foot three point jumper (Del Jones assists)
- 2nd Half32-35Del Jones makes 24-foot three point jumper (Lukas Walls assists)
- 2nd Half34-35Learic Davis makes layup (Carmelo Adkins assists)
- 2nd Half34-37Del Jones makes 6-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half35-37Carmelo Adkins makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half37-37Mason Bendinger makes driving layup
- 2nd Half37-39Dennis Parker Jr. makes 16-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half37-42Brennan Rigsby Jr. makes 23-foot three point jumper (Lukas Walls assists)
- 2nd Half37-43Jaylon Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half39-43Learic Davis makes 3-foot dunk
- 2nd Half39-45Frederik Erichsen makes driving layup
- 2nd Half39-46Frederik Erichsen makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half41-46Isaiah Skinner makes 8-foot jumper (Kanye Jones assists)
- 2nd Half41-47Del Jones makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half41-48Del Jones makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half41-50Dennis Parker Jr. makes driving layup
- 2nd Half44-50Isaiah Skinner makes 25-foot three point jumper (Carmelo Adkins assists)
- 2nd Half47-50Carmelo Adkins makes 26-foot three point jumper (Isaiah Skinner assists)
- 2nd Half47-52Dennis Parker Jr. makes 10-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half47-53Del Jones makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half47-54Del Jones makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half49-54Mason Bendinger makes driving layup
- 2nd Half49-55Dennis Parker Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half49-58Mari Jordan makes 24-foot three point jumper (Del Jones assists)
- 2nd Half51-58Learic Davis makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half51-59Dennis Parker Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-60Dennis Parker Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half51-63Del Jones makes 25-foot three point step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half53-63Jafeth Martinez makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half53-65Lukas Walls makes 11-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half55-65Jafeth Martinez makes 0-foot tip in dunk
- 2nd Half55-66Lukas Walls makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-67Lukas Walls makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half55-69Mari Jordan makes layup
- 2nd Half57-69Jafeth Martinez makes 4-foot dunk (Carmelo Adkins assists)
- 2nd Half57-70Del Jones makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half57-71Del Jones makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-71Carmelo Adkins makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-71Carmelo Adkins makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Radford Highlanders, below favours South Carolina Upstate Spartans.
Venue
- The Dedmon CenterRadford, VA
- Attendance971
- OfficialsKendall Pike, Ernest Hamilton III, Connor Macdaid
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