SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Coastal Carolina opens a six-game road swing Wednesday, Dec. 3, when the Chanticleers visit USC Upstate, looking to build on a 67–60 win over Alabama A&M on Sunday.

The Chanticleers (5–3) have won three of their last four games and are 2–3 away from home, including a true-road victory at Western Illinois and a neutral-site win over North Dakota. They will not play again in Conway until Jan. 1.

Sophomore guard AJ Dancler has led the recent surge, scoring 19 points with nine rebounds in Sunday's win. He scored Coastal's final six points and has reached double figures in five of eight games. The Chants are holding opponents to 35.7% shooting, the fifth-best defensive mark in the nation.

USC Upstate (4–5) returns home after a 72–63 loss at Nebraska. The Spartans are 3–1 on their home floor and feature three double-figure scorers: Mason Bendinger (15.0 ppg), Carmelo Adkins (14.9) and Karmani Gregory (14.4). Adkins is hitting 44.1% from behind the arc and averages nearly three made threes per game.

Under second-year coach Marty Richter, Upstate has leaned on its defense, leading the Big South in blocks (5.3 per game) and field-goal percentage defense (.406). Guard Tyler Smith ranks among the national leaders with 22 steals.

Coastal and Upstate are meeting for the 26th time in a series that dates back to 1969. The Chanticleers lead 14–11 and have taken the last two matchups, including a 73–51 win in Conway last season. Coastal's last visit to Spartanburg ended in a 79–78 loss three years ago.

Wednesday's game is the first of six straight on the road for the Chanticleers, who will also travel to Winthrop, Grand Canyon, Appalachian State, Old Dominion and Saint Joseph's before the end of December.