CLINTON, S.C. – Behind four double-figure scorers and two double-doubles, the Presbyterian Blue Hose (8-8, Big South: 1-0) beat the USC Upstate Spartans (8-9, Big South: 0-2), 86-77, in their Big South Conference opener at the Templeton Center on Saturday afternoon.

Jonah Pierce recorded his seventh double-double of the season with a career-high 29 points to go along with 12 rebounds. Triston Wilson scored a career-high 23 points while shooting 17-for-18 from the free throw line. Jaylen Peterson collected his first double-double of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Carl Parrish rounded out Presbyterian's double-digit scorers with 11 points.

Presbyterian scored 40 points in the paint. Presbyterian made 31 free throws on 43 free throw attempts after 32 fouls by USC Upstate.


HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF – The game began with a block from Peterson and a layup from Wilson. With the score tied at eight, Presbyterian scored eight straight points, taking a 16-8 lead after a pull-up jumper from Parrish with 11:10 on the clock. Pierce and Josh Pickett also scored during the run. After a pull-up jumper in the lane by Wilson, the Blue Hose's lead had ballooned to 25-14 with 7:11 on the clock. After a layup from Pierce with 4:14 on the clock, Presbyterian held a 31-21 lead. USC Upstate scored the final nine points of the half, cutting Presbyterian's lead to 31-30 at the half.

SECOND HALF – Peterson scored the first two points of the half with a layup, giving the Blue Hose a 33-30 lead. Presbyterian maintained the lead until after leading 39-38 with 15 minutes on the clock, USC Upstate scored seven straight points, taking a 45-39 lead with 12:54 left in the half. The Spartans pushed their lead to eight points, 50-42, with 11:14 on the clock. Presbyterian trailed 51-44, but consecutive threes from Pickett and Parrish ignited a 13-0 scoring run, giving the Blue Hose a 57-51 lead after two free throws from Wilson with 7:34 on the clock. The Blue Hose closed out the victory after making 22 free throws over the final seven minutes of the game.


INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• Presbyterian set the program's DI era record with 31 made free throws and 43 free throw attempts.
• Pierce shot 11-for-13 from the field. Pierce's 29 points marked his 14^th double-figure scoring game of the season and the 29^th of his career. His 12 rebounds was his eighth double-figure rebound game of the season.
• Wilson's 23 points were his sixth double-figure scoring game of the season and the eighth of his career.
• Wilson's 17 made free throws sets a school DI era record.
• Peterson's 13 points were his sixth double-figure scoring game of the season and the tenth of his career. His 13 rebounds marked his fourth double-figure rebound performance of the season.
• Parrish posted his 11^th double-digit scoring game of the season and the 27^th of his career with his 11 points.

 
NEXT GAME
Presbyterian begins a two-game Big South Conference road trip to Virginia at Radford next Wednesday, January 7, at 7 p.m.