Bendinger leads South Carolina Upstate against Gardner-Webb after 28-point showing

South Carolina Upstate Spartans (9-12, 1-5 Big South) at Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs (2-19, 0-6 Big South)

Boiling Springs, North Carolina; Friday, 7 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: South Carolina Upstate plays Gardner-Webb after Mason Bendinger scored 28 points in South Carolina Upstate's 83-69 loss to the UNC Asheville Bulldogs.

The Runnin' Bulldogs are 2-6 in home games. Gardner-Webb is 2-16 in games decided by 10 points or more.

The Spartans have gone 1-5 against Big South opponents. South Carolina Upstate is 5-3 when it turns the ball over less than its opponents and averages 11.4 turnovers per game.

Gardner-Webb is shooting 41.6% from the field this season, 1.0 percentage point lower than the 42.6% South Carolina Upstate allows to opponents. South Carolina Upstate averages 76.2 points per game, 12.7 fewer points than the 88.9 Gardner-Webb gives up.

The Runnin' Bulldogs and Spartans face off Friday for the first time in conference play this season.

Bendinger is shooting 48.6% and averaging 15.8 points for the Spartans. Karmani Gregory is averaging 12.1 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Runnin' Bulldogs: 2-8, averaging 68.7 points, 27.4 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 6.5 steals and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting 43.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 85.8 points per game.

Spartans: 3-7, averaging 72.3 points, 32.1 rebounds, 11.9 assists, 5.3 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 43.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 77.5 points.

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