SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Paine College men's basketball team dropped its final exhibition contest of the year to the University of South Carolina Upstate, 79-59, Monday evening in Spartanburg, S.C.

The Lions kept it close in the beginning of the game and were only down by three points (15-12) with 11:59 remaining in the first half. USC Upstate turned up the defensive pressure and stretched their lead to as much as 16 before going into the lockerrooms with a 41-26 advantage. The second-half was much of the same with the Spartans expanding the lead to 23 points before closing out the game with the 20 point victory.

Paine again was led by Babe Murphy who finished with a team-high 17 points while hauling down eight rebounds. Phillip Garner came of the bench to score 15 points while Deshawndric Nelms had a game-high 10 boards and six points.

PC shot 37.0 (20-of-54) percent from the field and again struggled from behind the arc connecting on just 26.3 (5-of-19) percent. Paine dominated the glass by a 44-29 margin, but turned over the ball 22 times to the Spartans nine.

USC Upstate was led by Deion Holmes who came off the bench to score a game-high 24 points.

The Lions will open conference play on the road as they take on 2017 SIAC Champion the Panthers of Clark Atlanta University on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. in Atlanta, Ga.