Dec. 14, 2015

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina returns from a 10-day break for final exams to host Drexel on Tuesday night. The meeting is the first all-time between the two schools.

GAME STORYLINES

– South Carolina is in its 108th season of varsity basketball in 2015-16.
– Carolina is led by fourth-year head coach Frank Martin. Alongside him are associate head coach Matt Figger, assistant coaches Perry Clark and Lamont Evans and director of men’s hoops operations, Andy Assaley.
– The Gamecocks remain the only undefeated team in the SEC entering Tuesday’s matchup vs. Drexel.
– South Carolina looks for its first 9-0 start since the 1970-71 season on Tuesday vs. the Dragons.
– Carolina posted an 81-63 win vs. USF on Dec. 5 in its last outing before the lengthy exam break. Four Gamecocks reached double-figures in the game, led by senior forward Michael Carrera’s 19. His out-put marked the most points scored in a game for Carrera since his rookie season. Junior guard Duane Notice posted 15 points hitting 6-of-8 from the field, which included a pair of 3s. The Gamecocks hit 60.6% from the floor in the opening half, and held the Bulls to a mark of just 35.3% from the floor in the game.
– The Gamecocks saw all 15 players reach the floor, with three scoring double-figures, led by Kacinas’ 20 points, in a 76-53 win vs. Western Carolina on Monday at Colonial Life Arena. Kacinas also pulled down 11 rebounds, and rookie forward Chris Silva was one point away from a double-double with nine points and 11 boards. South Carolina held WCU to just 28.4 percent from the floor and only four free throws in the contest.
– For the third-straight game South Carolina hit over 50% from the field and ran away with a 92-76 win vs. visiting Lipscomb on Nov. 27 in an afternoon matinee. Six Gamecocks hit double-figures, led by senior forward Laimonas Chatkevicius’ 17. Junior guard Sindarius Thornwell struggled from the floor, but he posted six assists, leading four Gamecocks with at least five helpers in the contest.

GAMECOCKS IN THE POLLS

South Carolina is ranked No. 25 in this week’s USA Today/Coaches Top 25 Poll, marking the first time the Gamecocks have been ranked since being ranked 22nd in the Feb. 16, 2004, coaches poll. South Carolina is also receiving votes in the AP poll, checking in at No. 27.

SCOUTING DREXEL

Drexel enters Tuesday’s matchup with a 1-6 overall record, having won their last contest, 66-53, on the road at La Salle. The Dragons have also not played since Dec. 5. Three average double-figures for the Dragons, led by senior guard Tavon Allen’s 15.1 per game. Rashann London (12.0) and Terrell Allen (11.3) also provide double-figures. Tavon Allen has scored 15 or more points 27 times in his career and has 10 games with at least 20 points. In the contest vs. La Salle, he tied a career-high with 25 points. The Dragons are led by head coach Bruiser Flint in his 15th season.

BY THE NUMBERS

14.4/6.9/30.1 – Senior forward Mindaugas Kacinas leads Carolina in points (14.4), rebounds (6.9) and minutes per game (30.1) entering Tuesday’s contest vs. Drexel.
60.6 – Carolina hit 60.6 percent from the floor in the first half vs. USF, including 46.2 percent from 3-point range. It marks the second-highest percentage in a half for the Gamecocks this season, as Carolina hit 63.3 percent in the first half of it’s 94-84 win vs. Hofstra at the Paradise Jam.
+9.1 – Despite being out-rebounded for the first time this season by USF, the Gamecocks rank second in the SEC and 25th in the nation with a rebound margin of +9.1.
51 – Carolina’s 51 rebounds vs. Western Carolina marked the most during the Frank Martin era, and the most since collecting 53 in an overtime contest vs. Western Kentucky on Nov. 27, 2010.
50% + – The Gamecocks hit at least 50% from the floor in three-straight games earlier this season (vs. Hofstra/vs. Tulsa/vs. Lipscomb) for the first time since hitting the mark in seven-straight during the 2004-05 campaign.
36 – South Carolina trailed for only 36 seconds in three games at the Paradise Jam, all against Hofstra. The Gamecocks have trailed in just two contests this season, Oral Roberts and vs. Hofstra.

UP NEXT

South Carolina travels to face Clemson on Friday in Greenville, S.C., at Bon Secours Arena. The meeting is the 166th all-time between the two instate rivals. South Carolina posted a 68-45 win over the Tigers in Columbia last season.