Dean Leads South Carolina Upstate against Wake Forest after 20-Point Outing
Postgame Notes
After a career-high 20-point performance against Gardner-Webb, Justin Dean will lead the South Carolina Upstate Spartans against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on Tuesday night. The Spartans are looking to build on their 2-0 start to the season, while the Demon Deacons are looking to bounce back from a season-opening loss to the Elon Phoenix.
Dean's Emergence
Dean, a 6'7" forward, has emerged as a key player for the Spartans this season. The senior from Sumter, South Carolina, is averaging 15.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He is also shooting 50.0% from the field and 40.0% from three-point range.
Dean's performance against Gardner-Webb was a breakout game for the senior. He scored 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-6 from three-point range. He also grabbed 8 rebounds and dished out 3 assists.
Wake Forest's Struggles
The Demon Deacons are coming off a disappointing 15-17 season, and they got off to a rough start this year with a 79-69 loss to the Elon Phoenix. Wake Forest was led by sophomore guard Daivien Williamson, who scored 19 points. However, the Demon Deacons shot just 39.2% from the field and 25.0% from three-point range.
Wake Forest will be looking to bounce back against the Spartans, but they will have their work cut out for them. South Carolina Upstate is a well-coached team with a lot of experience. The Spartans are also playing at home, where they have a 9-2 record last season.
Matchup to Watch
The matchup between Dean and Williamson will be one to watch. Dean is a physical presence inside, while Williamson is a quick and athletic guard. Both players are capable of putting up big numbers, so this could be a high-scoring affair.
Prediction
The Spartans are a slight favorite in this game, and I think they will win. Dean is playing with a lot of confidence right now, and he is a tough matchup for any team. Wake Forest will need to play much better than they did against Elon if they want to pull off the upset.