Wednesday, January 27
7:00 p.m. – Kennesaw State vs. USC Upstate (ESPN3)
Links: Live Stats | ESPN3 | Tickets | Game Notes
Social Media: Twitter | Facebook
 
SCOUTING USC UPSTATE                              
USC Upstate is currently 7-15 and 1-4 in the Atlantic Sun standings. The one win in conference play came against NJIT.
 
The Spartans have had to fill some big shoes as Lou Henson award winner and A-Sun Player of the Year, Ty Greene, graduated after last season.
 
This year, the Spartans are led by freshman Deion Holmes, who is averaging 12.7 points per game. The other Upstate player averaging in double figures is Michael Buchanan. He's averaging 10.9 ppg.
 
Buchanan is leading the team in rebounds with 5.2 per game.
 
The Spartans are led by Eddie Payne. He's in his 14th year as head coach.
 
THE ALL-TIME SERIES VERSUS USC UPSTATE
The Owls trail in the series 10-22 and have lost the last four against the Spartans. Last season, KSU played Upstate three times as the two teams squared off in the quarterfinals of the A-Sun tournament.
 
Batman and Robin
Kendrick Ray and Yonel Brown are the highest scoring tandem in the A-Sun and they didn't disappoint against Stetson and FGCU. The two combined for 56 points against the Hatters and 51 points against the Eagles.
 
It was the third and fourth time this season the duo combined to score 50-plus points and three other times they have both topped 40 points. The two lead the A-Sun averaging 36.9 points per game. Brown is second in the A-Sun averaging 18.5 points per game and Ray is third averaging 18.4.
 
One of the two players has led the team in scoring in every game except for three so far this season.
 
30-Point Performances
There have been seven A-Sun players with 30-point games this season and Kennesaw State has two of them through the team's 21 games.
 
Brown and Ray have combined for five 30-point performances this season. Brown has had three as he scored 34 against Alabama, 31 against Elon and 34 against Stetson. Ray has had two 30-point games scoring 30 against Mercer and 31 against FGCU.
 
Matchup to Watch
Last season in the two games the Owls played in, Nigel Pruitt averaged 29.0 ppg in the two games at the Hodge Center. In the first game, he won A-Sun Player of the Week after scoring 32 points. In the A-Sun tournament, Pruitt led the team with 26 points.
 
Offense Flowing
Since A-Sun play, Kennesaw State is averaging 13 more points per game than they did through non-conference play. Currently, the Owls are averaging 80.6 point per game. After the 16 non-conference games, the team was averaging 67.1 ppg.
 
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State men's basketball news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsMBB or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.
 
This season, fans should purchase their tickets in advance of games, as they are only $10 ahead of time and $12 at the door.
 
Season tickets are currently available for all the home court action for the Owls and can be purchased by following the link here.