CLINTON, S.C. - Presbyterian College sophomore guard Drew Biggs (Alpharetta, Ga.) led four players in double figures as the No. 24 Blue Hose defeated No. 21 USC Upstate 74-63 in men's college basketball action Wednesday night at the Ross E. Templeton Center. PC improves to 10-1 overall while USC Upstate falls to 6-1 on the season.

The game opened with four ties and six lead changes all coming in the first eight minutes. The Spartans took the lead for good (19-18) at the 11:25 mark on a three-pointer by junior guard Jay Free (Spartanburg, S.C.). USC Upstate pushed the lead to as many as seven points on three occasions down the stretch, the last coming at 29-22 on a jumper by freshman forward Marc Wartenberger (Wurzburg, Germany) at the 3:46 mark. The Blue Hose responded with a 9-3 run over the next two minutes to trim the lead to 32-31 on a putback from redshirt sophomore center Martynas Versinskas (Kaunas, Lithuania) with :29 seconds to play. USCU's sophomore guard Luke Payne (Spartanburg, S.C.) hit a deep three-pointer as time expired to give the Spartans a 35-31 lead entering halftime.

Both teams shot the ball extremely well in the first half with PC hitting 12 of-23 field goals for 52.2% while the Spartans connected on 13-of-26 attempts from the floor for 50.0%. Free led the Spartans with nine points while the Blue Hose were led by nine points coming from senior forward Tray Ballenger (Wellford, S.C.).

The Spartans were able to extend their lead to six points to open the second half, but the Blue Hose put together a 13-3 run behind seven points from senior center Johann Collins (Raleigh, N.C.) to retake the lead at 44-40 with 14:07 remaining in the game. USC Upstate fought back and retook the lead at 49-47 on a three-pointer by Free just three minutes later. The game would be close the rest of the half neither team able to extend the lead past six points.

USC Upstate trailed 61-55 with 4:41 remaining before putting together a 6-0 run behind three-point field goals from Free and Payne to even the score at 61-61 with 2:59 left in the game. The Spartans would not get any closer down the stretch as PC closed the game on a 13-2 run including six straight free throws to seal the victory.

Collins and fellow senior, forward Ballenger each tallied 13 points for the Blue Hose while Versinskas added 11 points and six boards off the bench. USC Upstate was led by Free's game-high 19 points while Payne added 18 points.