High Point and South Carolina Upstate Face Off in Big South Tournament

The Panthers and Spartans meet in the conference tournament after splitting the regular season series.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The High Point Panthers (24-5, 13-3 Big South) and South Carolina Upstate Spartans (12-19, 7-10 Big South) will face off in the Big South Tournament in Johnson City, Tennessee on Thursday. High Point leads the conference in scoring defense, holding opponents to 58.6 points per game, while South Carolina Upstate has struggled on offense, averaging just 57.3 points over their last 10 games.

Why it matters

This matchup features two teams heading in opposite directions, with High Point having a strong regular season and South Carolina Upstate looking to pull off an upset in the tournament. The outcome could determine which team advances deeper into the Big South Tournament.

The details

High Point has been dominant in conference play, going 13-3 against Big South opponents. They are led by guard Macy Spencer, who is averaging 18.5 points per game. South Carolina Upstate, on the other hand, has had an up-and-down season, going 7-10 in Big South games. They are paced by forward Cassie Gallagher, who is scoring 15.7 points per contest. The teams split their two regular season meetings, with South Carolina Upstate winning the most recent matchup 55-50 on February 28.

  • The game will tip off at 11:30 a.m. EST on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
  • High Point and South Carolina Upstate previously met on February 28, 2026, with the Spartans winning 55-50.

The players

Macy Spencer

A guard for the High Point Panthers who is averaging a team-high 18.5 points per game this season.

Cassie Gallagher

A forward for the South Carolina Upstate Spartans who is scoring 15.7 points per contest.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for a tough battle against a well-coached South Carolina Upstate team. They proved they can beat us earlier this season, so we need to come out focused and execute our game plan.”

— Tubby Smith, Head Coach, High Point Panthers (wtop.com)

“Our team is excited for the opportunity to play High Point again in the tournament. We know they are a talented team, but we believe we can pull off the upset if we play our style of basketball.”

— Dave Dickerson, Head Coach, South Carolina Upstate Spartans (wtop.com)

What’s next

The winner of this matchup will advance to the next round of the Big South Tournament.

The takeaway

This game features a clash of styles, with High Point's stifling defense taking on South Carolina Upstate's balanced offensive attack. The outcome could come down to which team is able to impose their will and execute their game plan more effectively.