Gamecocks Open Homestand Hosting Mississippi State Saturday

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina (5-6, 3-4 SEC) opens a three-game SEC homestand on Saturday when it hosts Mississippi State (10-9, 4-6 SEC) for a 3:30 p.m. ET tipoff at Colonial Life Arena.  Kevin Fitzgerald (play-by-play) and Dane Bradshaw (analyst) will handle the call for the SEC Network broadcast, while Derek Scott (play-by-play) and Casey Manning (analyst) will have the call over the air on the Gamecock Radio Network.

GAME INFORMATION
Arena: Colonial Life Arena (18,000)
Broadcast: SEC Network
  Play-By-Play: Kevin Fitzgerald
  Analyst: Dane Bradshaw
Radio: Gamecock Radio Network
  In Columbia: 107.5 The Game
  Play-By-Play: Derek Scott
  Analyst: Casey Manning
  Sirius: – | XM: 190 | Internet: 961
Watch: WatchESPN/ESPN App
Live Stats: GamecocksOnline.com
  Series: Mississippi State leads 23-16
  In Columbia: Carolina leads 10-8
  Series Trend: MSU has won three of the last five meetings
  Last Meeting: 83-71 South Carolina win on March 3, 2020, in Columbia

TIPOFF NOTABLES
> South Carolina held Florida without a field goal for the final 6:37 of the contest, and used a 13-1 run during that final stretch to post a come-from-behind upset road win over the No. 22/23 ranked Gators on Wednesday in Gainesville.  Junior guard AJ Lawson scored 22 to pace the Gamecocks, and his eight rebounds were also a team best.  It was Carolina’s third-straight win in Gainesville.  
> Carolina out-scored Florida 50-30 in the paint, marking its highest point in the paint total of the season.  Senior guard Seventh Woods played a huge roll in that total, hitting 6-of-10 from the floor, with several of those made baskets in the lane.  His 12 points marked a season high.
> Vanderbilt jumped out to an early lead, and led for all but 57 seconds of the contest against South Carolina last Saturday in Nashville in the 93-81 Commodore win.  The Gamecocks hit 50% of their attempts from the field, including 10 from beyond the arc, but Vandy responded with 13 made 3s, and a 22-of-27 mark at the free throw line.
> Junior guard AJ Lawson led Carolina with 21 points at Vandy, his fifth game this season with 20+, and he was also 3-of-9 from 3-point range, marking his seventh contest this season with three or more makes from beyond the arc.  His 37.3 percent (31-83) from 3-point range (overall games) is third in the SEC, while his average of 2.82 makes from 3 this season is a conference best and 42nd nationally.
> Anchored by a 19 point, 10 rebound double-double from junior forward Keyshawn Bryant, Carolina snapped a three-game losing streak with an 83-59 win over Georgia at Colonial Life Arena on Jan. 27.  Jermaine Couisnard added an SEC season high 18 points, and sophomore guard Trae Hannibal dished out a career best six assists in the win.  
> The Gamecock defense was locked in from the start vs. Georgia, and held the Bulldogs to opponent season lows of 31.8 percent (21-66) from the floor, and 15.4 percent (4-26) from beyond the arc.  The Gamecock defense also forced 20 Georgia turnovers.

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
  At each home game in the month of February, South Carolina will recognize individuals from the State and their community accomplishments, and following the National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing will also be played.
> At Saturday’s home game vs. Mississippi State, South Carolina will recognize the Moody Family.
  • Mrs. Bessie Moody-Lawrence dedicated her life to education and equality. A graduate of South Carolina State, she earned her master’s in education from Winthrop, and her doctorate degree from the University of South Carolina.  Mrs. Moody-Lawrence was only the second black woman elected to the General Assembly from York County, and she spent her time in the state house passionate about programs that would benefit public education, children and the availability for affordable health care and equality for all people.  
  • Mr. Lindberg Moody Sr., was a standout basketball player for South Carolina State University before playing a season of professional basketball with the Detroit Pistons.  He returned to the Palmetto State to coach and teach at Rock Hill High School, before continuing his passion for education as Northwestern High School’s basketball coach.
  • Ms. Leah Moody has continued her parents’ passion for education as a member of the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees since 2009, and on the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education from 2010-2015.  After earning her degree from Hampton University, Ms. Moody returned to South Carolina and attended the South Carolina School of Law, where she earned her juris doctor degree.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
> Mississippi State is 10-9 on the year and 4-6 in SEC contests.  MSU has lost four of their last five contests entering weekend action at South Carolina.  
> The Bulldogs are led by head coach Ben Howland in his sixth season in Starkville.
> In midweek action, the Bulldogs suffered a 61-45 road loss at Arkansas.
> In road games this season, MSU is 2-3, with all five of those contests coming in SEC play.
> D.J. Stewart Jr. (17.1), Iverson Molinar (16.9) and Tolu Smith (12.7) all average double figures this season for the Bulldogs, and Smith’s 8.4 rebounds are a team and conference best.
> Abdul Ado has started all 19 games for the Bulldogs and is fourth in the SEC with 1.9 blocked shots per game.  In SEC play, he has 2.4 blocks per outing.
> As a team, Mississippi State is among the nation’s best with a +7.6 rebound margin, which is an SEC best, and ranks 22nd nationally.  The squad is 33rd nationally with 4.7 blocks per game.

GAMECOCK NOTES TO KNOW
> Head coach Frank Martin is in his ninth season leading the Gamecocks in 2020-21.  He is joined by assistant coaches Will Bailey, Chuck Martin and Bruce Shingler, while Andy Assaley is the director of operations for the squad.
> Martin is 34-47 (.419) against ranked opponents as a head coach. His teams have four wins over opponents ranked in the top five, and two wins over opponents who are ranked No. 1.
> The Gamecocks have hit double-digit conference victories in four of the last five seasons (11 in 2016, 12 in 2017, 11 in 2019, and 10 in 2020).
> A pair of Gamecocks collected preseason honors from both the media and SEC coaches during the preseason.  Junior guard AJ Lawson earned preseason All-SEC Second-Team accolades from the media, while Lawson (First Team) and Couisnard (Second Team) were honored by the SEC coaches on the preseason teams.
> Junior guard AJ Lawson is Carolina’s top returning scorer after pacing the team with 13.4 points per game last season.  He averaged the same during his rookie campaign, and is just two points away from reaching 1,000 for his career.
> Five who started the majority of SEC games last season return to the court for Carolina.  Lawson, sophomore guard Jermaine Couisnard, who paced the team in league play at 12.1 points per game, junior forward Keyshawn Bryant, junior forward Justin Minaya (missed nine SEC games due to injury last season) and junior forward Alanzo Frink.  
> From last season, the biggest absence from the lineup will be graduated four-year starter Maik Kotsar.  Kotsar had a career year, averaging 11.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, while also leading the Gamecocks in blocks (1.1 per game) and steals at 1.5 per outing in 2019-20.  Kotsar, who was a starter during his rookie season on Carolina’s 2017 Final Four squad, also played a team high 30.4 minutes per game a year ago.
> R-sophomore guard Jermaine Couisnard led Carolina with 20 points in the win vs. Tulsa (Nov. 29).  It marked the third 20-point outing of his career.  
> Junior guard AJ Lawson was named to the Hall of Fame Classic All-Tournament Team after a pair of double-figure scoring outings at the event.  Lawson led the Gamecocks with 12 vs. Liberty (Jan. 28), before a 17-point outing behind four 3s in the win over Tulsa.  On the weekend, Lawson was 6-of-13 (46.2%) from range, while also dishing out three assists and collecting three steals.
> The Gamecocks held a halftime lead on the road at No. 10 Houston (Dec. 5), however, the Cougars battled back in the second half and closed a 77-67 win.  Junior forward Justin Minaya hit all three of his attempts from beyond the arc and led Carolina with 13 points in the loss.  
> South Carolina returned to the court for the first time since Dec. 5 when it hosted Florida A&M on Jan. 2.  The contest marked the Gamecocks’ first game in 28 days due to a combination of positive COVID-19 tests, contact tracing and subsequent quarantining of individuals within the South Carolina program.
> The Gamecocks posted a 78-71 win over Florida A&M on Jan. 2 in their home opener, using a 9-2 run over the final five minutes to secure the win.  Junior guard AJ Lawson’s then-career high nine made field goals saw him post a team best 25 points in the win, sophomore guard Jermaine Couisnard added 15, and junior forward Justin Minaya posted his first double-double of the season with 10 points and a team high 10 rebounds.  The Gamecocks had nine players available for the contest.  
> Carolina opened SEC play on Jan. 6 with a 78-54 win over visiting Texas A&M at Colonial Life Arena.  Junior guard AJ Lawson scored a career high 30 points in the win, R-sophomore guard Jermaine Couisnard added 15 points and sophomore forward Wildens Leveque scored a season high 10 points for the Gamecocks.
> Carolina held a four-point lead at halftime of its matchup at LSU behind 18 first-half points from junior guard AJ Lawson, but, the Tigers out-scored the Gamecocks 51-42 in the second half to close the home win on Jan. 16.  Lawson finished with 22, his third-straight game with 20+, and junior forward Keyshawn Bryant scored a career high 26 in the loss.
> Due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, South Carolina head coach Frank Martin, assistant coach Chuck Martin, and Doug Edwards, who handles student-athlete development for the team, did not travel with the team to Baton Rouge on Jan. 16.  Assistant coach Bruce Shingler was the acting head coach for the matchup vs. the Tigers, along with assistant coach Will Bailey, video coordinator Brian Steele, and special assistant to the head coach John Reynolds.
> Missouri jumped out to a 10-point lead in the first three minutes of the Jan. 19 contest, and the Gamecocks weren’t able to overcome the early deficit in the 11-point loss to the 19th-ranked Tigers.  Missouri hit 58.3% from the field in the 81-70 win.
> Sophomore forward Trey Anderson had a breakout performance at Mizzou.  The San Diego native played a career high 25 minutes off the bench, hitting 7-of-9 from the floor, including a pair of 3s, en route to a career high 17 points.  His five rebounds were also a career best.
> Carolina and Auburn traded points early in the matchup at Colonial Life Arena on Jan. 23, but Auburn used an 11-1 run to take a double-digit lead midway through the first half, and out-scored the Gamecocks the rest of the way in the win.  Junior forward Keyshawn Bryant continued his hot streak on the offensive end, leading Carolina with 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field.  Classmate AJ Lawson matched his career high with six made 3-pointers vs. the Tigers, and r-sophomore guard Jermaine Couisnard dished out a season high six assists.

LOOKING AHEAD
> Following Saturday’s matchup vs. Mississippi State, South Carolina continues its homestand when league leading Alabama travels to Columbia for a Tuesday contest.
> Tuesday’s meeting with Alabama is the only between the Gamecocks and Crimson Tide this season.
> Carolina concludes its three-game homestand against Ole Miss on Sat., Feb. 13.  

ODDS AND ENDS
> A couple random notes and factoids …
  – Four Gamecocks have at least 120 career assists, led by AJ Lawson and Seventh Woods with 160 each, then Jermaine Couisnard (136) and Justin Minaya (123)
  – Lawson has nine double-figure scoring games this season with six of those 20+
  – In its last three games, Carolina has made at least 31 field goals in each, with a season high 33 in the home win vs. Georgia
– Among the SEC’s active career leaders, Lawson is fourth in scoring (998) and tied for fifth in steals (87)

MINAYA STRONG ON THE GLASS
> R-junior forward Justin Minaya is having a career year on both ends of the floor this season.  Minaya paces the Gamecocks with 7.0 rebounds per contest, which is +1.7 rebounds per game over his career average.  He has three double-doubles on the year, and also paces the Gamecocks with 3.0 offensive rebounds per game, which is fourth in the SEC and 49th nationally.
> In strictly SEC games, Minaya’s 7.0 boards per game is tied for sixth in the conference.  He has two double-doubles in league games, and pulled down a season best 11 rebounds at No. 19 Mizzou.
> Minaya has at least six rebounds in every game this season except three, and he has at least three on the offensive glass in every game except four.

BY THE NUMBERS
37.5 – The South Carolina duo of AJ Lawson (19.3) and Keyshawn Bryant (18.2) average a combined 37.5 points per SEC game this season, which is the second-ranked tandem in league play behind LSU’s Cameron Thomas and Trendon Watford, who average a combined 38.5 points per league outing.
3.7 – R-junior forward Justin Minaya is averaging 3.7 offensive rebounds per SEC game, which leads the league.  
16.09 – The Gamecocks are forcing 16.09 opponent turnovers per game (overall games), which is fourth in the SEC and 35th nationally.  
2 – Lawson needs just two points to reach 1,000 for his career.
12 – Senior guard Seventh Woods had his best scoring output of the season with 12 points, 10 of those in the second half, in the upset win at No. 22/23 Florida on Wednesday.

COMING UP NEXT
> The Gamecocks continue their SEC homestand when they host league leader No. 10/7 Alabama on Tuesday night.  Tip time vs. the Crimson Tide is set for 6:30 p.m. ET at Colonial Life Arena.  The meeting is the only between the two schools this SEC regular season.