Box Score (PDF)

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel men's basketball team earned a thrilling 97-92 win over USC Upstate on Saturday afternoon, improving to 2-0 in the Holy City Hoops Classic and 5-0 at home.
 
Just like in Friday's game, The Citadel (6-3) jumped out to an early lead thanks to a three-pointer and a jumper by Quayson Williams. The Bulldogs stingy defense and two charges taken by Warren Sledge held USC Upstate (4-5) scoreless until the 16 minute mark in the half.
 
A few minutes later Preston Parks hit back-to-back threes, giving the Dogs a 14-5 lead. Williams and Leandro Allende followed with treys of their own and with 8:09 remaining The Citadel held a 29-23 lead.  
 
The Citadel continued to push the tempo in the game, extending its lead to as many as 14 at one point, but a couple of buckets by the Spartans cut into the lead. With 1.2 seconds remaining in the half, freshman Frankie Johnson hit two free throws to give the Bulldogs a 50-42 lead heading into the break.  
 
In the second half, The Citadel was able to push its lead to 11 thanks to a tough bucket under the basket by Tom Koopman with 15:33 remaining. But USC Upstate came roaring back and after hitting back-to-back three-pointers and a jumper, the Spartans took the lead for the first time with nine minutes remaining.
 
USC Upstate held onto the lead for five minutes, pushing its lead to four before Koopman made a jumper to cut it to two. Two possessions later, Matt Frierson hit his only three-pointer of the game to give the lead back to the Bulldogs with 4:19 remaining.
 
The Spartans answered the trey with a bucket of their own to take a one-point lead but on the next two possessions, Parks hit two treys to make it 91-86 with a little over two minutes to play.
 
USC Upstate cut the Bulldogs' lead to one on its next two trips down the floor, hitting a jumper and making two free throws to make it 91-90 with one minute remaining. That would be the closest the Spartans would get the rest of the game as Zane Najdawi made a layup on a beautiful assist from Parks and then the 'Dogs made four free throws in the last 30 seconds to clinch the 97-92 win.
 
Parks finished with a career-best 25 points on nine-of-16 shooting from the field, dishing out three assists and snagging five rebounds in 27 minutes of action. Najdawi recorded his fourth consecutive game in double figures, pouring in 16 points while Johnson and Williams finished with 11 points each.
 
The Bulldogs wrap up the weekend Sunday when they take on Campbell at 3 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 with live stats available at CitadelSports.com. For tickets, visit CitadelSports.com/tickets.
 
For more information on The Citadel basketball, follow @CitadelHoops or visit CitadelSports.com.