SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Mick Hedgepeth scored a season-high 19 points and Belmont held off South Carolina-Upstate 67-62 on Friday night to remain undefeated in Atlantic Sun Conference play.
The Bruins (17-3, 9-0) saw an 11-point lead trimmed to 38-37 with 11:43 left on two free throws by Torrey Craig, who also hit back-to-back 3-pointers.
The Spartans (2-16, 1-7) did not score again for 3 1/2 minutes as Belmont built a nine-point cushion, then threatened again late.
Craig, who finished 5 of 11 from beyond the arc, hit a 3 to make it 65-61 with 27 seconds to go. Belmont's Kerron Johnson missed two free throws, then USC Upstate's Babatunde Olumuyiwa made 1 of 2 foul shots for 65-62 with 8 seconds left.
A clutch rebound and two free throws from Hedgepeth secured the victory.
Craig had 23 points and 10 rebounds and Josh Chavis added 13 points for the Spartans, who have lost 10 straight.
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