Feb. 9, 2015

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina hosts Missouri on Tuesday in only the fourth meeting all-time between the two schools, and the second at Colonial Life Arena. Both teams look to snap losing streaks, as Carolina has lost its last two – both on the road – and the Tigers have lost nine straight. Tuesday’s game will be broadcast on the SEC Network with Dari Nowkhah (pxp) and Joe Dean Jr. (analyst) on the call.

GAME INFORMATION
Game Date: Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015
Game Time: 7 p.m. ET
Arena: Colonial Life Arena (18,000)
Broadcast: SEC Network/WatchESPN
Talent: Dari Nowkhah (pxp), Joe Dean Jr. (analyst)
Radio: Gamecock Radio Network
Talent: Andy Demetra (pxp), Casey Manning (analyst)
Sirius: 119; XM: 191
Series: Missouri leads 3-0
Last Meeting: 82-74 Missouri win on Jan. 25, 2014, in Columbia, Mo.

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GAME STORYLINES
– South Carolina is in its 107th season of varsity basketball in 2014-15.
– The Gamecocks are led by third-year head coach Frank Martin. His associate head coach is Matt Figger, his assistant coaches are Perry Clark and Lamont Evans, and his director of operations is Andy Assaley.
– An 18-0 run in the second half allowed Vanderbilt to post a 65-50 home win at Memorial Gymnasium on Feb. 7 over the visiting Gamecocks. Sophomore guard Sindarius Thornwell led Carolina with 12 points, and classmate Duane Notice added 10. The Commodores out-rebounded the Gamecocks 33-20, holding Carolina to a season low four offensive boards.
– Sophomore forward Demetrius Henry returned to the lineup at Vandy after missing the previous three games due to a concussion.
– Sophomore guard Justin McKie missed his fourth-straight game at Vandy due to a concussion, and freshman guard/forward Shamiek Sheppard did not play at Arkansas or Vandy due to a sore right knee.
– Tuesday’s game promotion is “Outdoors Night,” fans are able to buy one ticket and one hat for $18, as well as free food for the first 500 students.
– Undermanned due to injuries, the Gamecocks suffered a 75-55 setback on the road at Arkansas on Feb. 3. Sophomore guard Sindarius Thornwell posted a team high 16 points in the game, including a pair of 3s in the first half. The Gamecocks struggled offensively, hitting just 27.9 percent from the field.
– South Carolina snapped a four-game losing streak on Jan. 31 with a 67-50 victory over visiting Georgia at Colonial Life Arena. Four Gamecocks scored in double-figures in that contest, led by 12 from junior forward Laimonas Chatkevicius. Sophomore guards Sindarius Thornwell (10) and Duane Notice (11), and senior guard Tyrone Johnson (10) also scored in double figures. Junior forward Michael Carrera led the Gamecocks for the fourth straight game on the glass, pulling down a game high nine rebounds.
– The Gamecocks held Georgia to just 22.0 percent (11-50) from the field, including just a 4-of-25 (16.0%) mark in the second half. Both figures set new Gamecock records for lowest opponent field goal percentage in a single half and for a game in the SEC regular season. It is also the lowest field goal percentage by a Gamecock opponent since the addition of the 3-point basket in college basketball.
– The Gamecocks are in their 24th season of competition in the Southeastern Conference in 2015. Carolina owns a 140-242 (.367) all-time record in SEC play.
– Frank Martin owns a 61-67 (.476) all-time record in conference games.
– South Carolina has victories this season over three teams in the top 25 of the RPI (Feb. 9) in Iowa State (15), Georgia (23) and Oklahoma State (24).

SCOUTING MISSOURI
The Tigers enter Tuesday’s matchup having lost their last nine games, all in SEC play. They are 7-16 on the year, with a 1-9 mark in league games. That lone win in conference play came in the league opener at home vs. LSU. Two Tigers are averaging double-figure points with Johnathan Williams III leading the team with 12.0 per outing (overall games) and 10.2 per league game. Sophomore guard Wes Clark adds 10.0 points per game, and most recently led the team with 15 points over the weekend in a loss to Texas A&M. Clark ranks fifth in the SEC with 1.7 steals as well. Senior guard Keith Shamburger dishes 3.6 assists per game, and ranks second in the SEC in strictly league games with an assist to turnover ratio of 3.8. The Tigers are led by head coach Kim Anderson in his first season.

MISSOURI SERIES
Tuesday’s meeting between the Gamecocks and Tigers is only the fourth all-time between the two schools. The teams met twice in the 2013 league season and met last year in Columbia, Mo. Missouri has won all three of the previous meetings.

BY THE #’S
71.2 – South Carolina is averaging 71.2 points per game in home games this season. In league home games, Carolina is averaging 61.6 points per game.
43.0% – The Gamecocks are averaging 43.0% from the field in home games this season compared to just 36.3 percent from their opponents at Colonial Life Arena.
3.6 – Among freshmen in the SEC, Marcus Stroman ranks fourth in overall games with 3.6 assists per outing. In strictly league games, he ranks third with 2.7 per outing.
9-7 – The Gamecocks are 9-7 this season when out-rebounding their opponent.
2-3 – South Carolina junior guard Brian Steele hit 2-of-3 attempts from 3-point range at Vanderbilt, including a 3 just before the halftime buzzer to push the Carolina lead to 26-22 at the break.
4th – South Carolina ranks fourth in the SEC in average home attendance, as an average of 11,583 fans attend Carolina home games this season.
3rd – South Carolina ranks third in scoring defense in the SEC (overall games), as opponents average just 61.3 points per game.
3rd – The Gamecocks rank second in the SEC (overall games) in free throw percent, hitting 73.0 percent at the charity stripe this season.
84.3% – Senior guard Tyrone Johnson ranks fourth in the SEC (overall games) in free throw percent, as he has hit 59-of-70 attempts this season for a mark of 84.3%.

UP NEXT
South Carolina travels to face top-ranked Kentucky on Saturday in a 2 p.m. ET matchup set to be broadcast on ESPN. It marks Carolina’s first game in Lexington since Feb. 2013. The meeting is the second between the two schools this season, as the Wildcats posted a 58-43 win over Carolina on Jan. 24, 2015, in Columbia.