South Carolina State vs South Carolina Upstate prediction: SC State's interior scoring runs into USC Upstate's shot-blockers
Last season South Carolina State could barely finish inside the arc, and USC Upstate's defense was built to make that worse.
- Upstate's defense, a top-100 unit last season, should squeeze an SC State offense that ranked near the bottom of Division I.
- SC State's drives against Upstate's rim protection: the Spartans blocked 12.3% of opponent twos last season, 43rd nationally.
- No line yet. Last season's adjusted net ratings separate them by 67 spots: Upstate 291st, SC State 358th.
Where SC State has to score
Every number below comes from last season, since neither team has played yet. Treat them as a starting point, not a forecast. Both rosters changed over the summer. SC State's roster lists newcomers from Mercyhurst, Spring Hill College, Ellsworth CC and Spartanburg Methodist, plus four freshmen, among them Clayton Everett Jr. and Ja'Caiden Cone.
Still, the shape of last season is hard to ignore. SC State made just 44.9% of its two-point shots, 356th of 365 teams. It didn't make up for that from deep, either. The Bulldogs took threes on only 32.9% of their shots, 319th nationally. Their effective field goal percentage, which counts a made three as 1.5 field goals, sat at 46.8%, 350th.
Upstate's defense was the strong half of a 13-19 team. It allowed 104.2 points per 100 possessions, 81st nationally. It held opponents to 48.6% inside the arc, 65th, and its shot-blocking ranked 43rd. SC State was the bigger team, averaging 78.7 inches in minutes-weighted height to Upstate's 76.5. Even with that edge, it couldn't turn size into easy baskets.
South Carolina State vs South Carolina Upstate: quick answers
When is South Carolina State vs South Carolina Upstate?
Friday, November 6, 2026 at 6:30 PM ET.