SC Upstate beats Div. II North Greenville 80-59

Dec 31, 2017, 12:56 am

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Mike Cunningham scored a season-high 23 points and South Carolina Upstate beat Division II North Greenville 80-59 on Saturday.

Malik Moore added 20 points for the Spartans (5-11) who have lost seven of their last nine and have just one victory against Division I teams this season, an 88-78 win over Abilene Christian on Nov. 25.

SC Upstate trailed 20-17 with 7:26 left in the first half but rallied to take a 33-26 lead into intermission.

North Greenville stayed close early in the second half, cutting the Spartans lead to 49-46 with 10:10 left to play. Moore hit a jumper and a dunk as part of a 12-0 run to stretch it to 61-46 with 7:04 remaining and the Spartans led by double figures the rest of the way.

Roderick Howell and DJ Brooks scored 14 points apiece to lead the Crusaders.