How to Watch Nebraska Basketball vs. South Carolina Upstate with Preview, Breakdown, Streaming
After nearly upsetting a top 20 Arkansas team on the road last week, Winthrop had the same idea going into Tuesday’s game against the Nebraska men’s basketball team.
But Rienk Mast stood his ground with a game-high 31 points to extend Nebraska’s nation-leading winning streak and avoid an upset right after receiving votes in the men’s college basketball AP Poll. Mast got three other double-digit scorers in support as Pryce Sandfort, Braden Frager and Cale Jacobsen each chipped in 11 points as NU overcame a 36-32 defecit to move to 7-0 on the season.
The Huskers were extremely disciplined, turning the ball over only five times compared to the Eagles’ 11. It was the rebounding battle that kept Winthrop in it as they earned a 48-38 advantage — which came in a game without NU big man Berke Buyuktuncel due to injury.
In what could end up being a quality win down the line, Nebraska will break for a quick Thanksgiving before returning to Pinnacle Bank Arena for one final game before hosting Creighton for the state’s internal rivalry.
Here’s all you need to know as Nebraska hosts South Carolina Upstate Saturday afternoon.
How to Follow Along
USC Upstate head coach Marty Richter looks to rebound from a 6-26 campaign last season. / USC Upstate Athletics
South Carolina Upstate Scout
Head Coach
Marty Richter | 2nd season at SC Upstate & as Division I HC | 10-30 (.250) at SC Upstate & Career Record | Previous head coach at Florida Southwestern State (JUCO) | Previous assistant at Drake, Florida Gulf Coast, Chipola, BC Budivelnyk, Bowling Green, South Dakota and Simpson.
2024 Finish
L, 63-83 to #8 Gardner-Webb in Big South conference tournament.
2024 Record & Awards
6-26 (2-14 Big South, 9th) | | Big South Freshman OTY | All-Big South: 2x All-Freshman.
All-Time Series
Nebraska leads 1-0 (Nov. 14, 2009, last matchup, 76-49 NU).
Guard Carmelo Adkins leads the team in scoring with 15.4 points per game. / USC Upstate Athletics
Key Returners
Key Departures
Former USC Upstate guard Mister Dean transferred to Charleston after winning Big South Freshman of the Year honors. / USC Upstate athletics
Impact Transfers/Newcomers
Outlook
Determined to improve in his second season as head coach, Marty Richter received a gut punch early on when he found out that reigning Big South Freshman of the Year Mister Dean was headed to the transfer portal alongside fellow starter Brit Harris. Luckily, a quartert of players headlined the returning talent — led by sophomore guard Carmelo Adkins, who’s leading the Spartans in scoring at 15.4 PPG as a true sophomore. Karmani Gregory is the last of three USC Upstate players to put up a double-digit game average with 13.8.
Salt Lake CC transfer Mason Bendinger is second on USC Upstate in scoring so far this season at 15.3 per game. / USC Upstate Athletics
Forward and Salt Lake CC transfer Mason Bendinger has been a stellar addition out of the transfer portal with 15.3 points per game and just over two rebounds. In fact, he leads all starters in field goal percentage with a 53.1% mark, including six three-pointers. Wing Learic Davis has added solid numbers in 8.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per contest after starting in seven of the eight games. Combine them with returning forward Breylin Garcia (6.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG), and it’s an okay core. Despite already matching two-thirds of their 2024-2025 win total, the Spartans were voted last in the Big South preseason poll and will need to win more than two conference games to progress in the second season under Richter.
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