CLINTON, S.C.  - Behind four double-figure scorers led by junior guard Marquis Barnett's 20 points, the Presbyterian Blue Hose (10-13, Big South: 2-6) defeated the USC Upstate Spartans (6-15, Big South: 1-7), 80-73, in the Templeton Center on Wednesday evening.
 
Barnett's game-high 20 points came on 8-for-10 shooting from the field. He also dished out three assists with three steals. Senior guard Trevon Reddish-Rhone scored 14 points. Junior guard Samage Teel tallied 12 points with 10 points coming in the second half. Junior forward Kaleb Scott scored 10 points while grabbing a game-high eight rebounds.
 
Presbyterian shot 57.4 percent from the field in the game including 65.4 percent in the second half.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF – Reddish-Rhone scored the game's first basket on a stepback jumper in the lane 18 seconds into the contest. The Blue Hose scored six of the first nine points taking an early 6-3 lead after Scott scored inside at the 17:30 mark. The Blue Hose maintained the lead until USC Upstate scored four straight points tying the score at 13 with 13 minutes left in the half. The score would be tied two more times over the next three minutes. USC Upstate broke the 17-17 tie with a three at the 10:05 mark. A layup from Jonah Pierce and a jumper from Barnett pushed the Blue Hose back in front 21-20. After USC Upstate regained the lead, the Blue Hose tied the score after a free throw from Crosby James. The Spartans pushed back in front. The lead would exchange hands a couple of times with several ties over the next four minutes. With the score tied at 31 at the 4:56 mark, Presbyterian scored five of the final nine points taking a 36-35 halftime lead.
 

SECOND HALF – USC Upstate regained the lead with a three from the wing 42 seconds into the half. Behind a three from Kobe Stewart, who scored five points and grabbed seven rebounds, and a basket inside from Pierce the Blue Hose had a 41-38 lead. The Spartans scored five straight points taking a 43-41 lead. Pierce scored inside tying the score at 43 three and a half minutes into the half. USC Upstate scored five straight points. Presbyterian went on a 8-0 scoring run behind baskets from Kory Mincy, Barnett, Reddish-Rhone, and Teel pushing the Blue Hose in front, 51-48, at the 11:31 mark. The score would end up tied three times over the next four minutes. With the score tied at 60 at the 7:36 mark, Presbyterian went on a 6-0 run taking the lead for good. Reddish-Rhone scored four points and Teel scored the other two points during the decisive scoring run. USC Upstate cut Presbyterian's lead to two points a couple of times. The Blue Hose closed out the win after James, Teel, and Barnett converted on free throws over the final 16 seconds of the game. Barnett sealed the win for PC after rebounding Teel's missed free throw with 10 seconds on the clock. Then, Barnett stepped to the line and made both free throws making Presbyterian's final margin of victory, 80-73.
  
NOTES

• Presbyterian's defense limited USC Upstate to 20 percent (4-for-20) shooting from beyond the three-point arc for the game.
• Barnett's 20 points marked his fifth 20-point scoring game of the season and the 37^th double-figure scoring game of his career.
• Reddish-Rhone collected his fourth straight double-figure scoring game with 14 points which marked his 37^th career double-digit scoring game.
• Teel's 12 points was his 17^th double-figure scoring game of the season.
• Scott's 10 points marked his sixth double-digit scoring game of the season.
• Presbyterian scored 46 points in the paint.
• The game had 12 lead changes and 14 ties.  

 
NEXT GAME
Presbyterian travels to North Carolina to play High Point this Saturday, February 3 at 7 p.m.