Jan. 5, 2015

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Sophomore guard Sindarius Thornwell was named SEC Player of the Week after averaging 12 points, 6.5 rebounds and two assists as the Gamecocks downed North Carolina A&T and No. 9 Iowa State. This is the first conference player of the week honor for the Lancaster, S.C. native. He earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors three times last season.

Thornwell opened the week with a stat-packed performance against North Carolina A&T, posting 11 points, five rebounds and two steals, while matching a season high with four assists, and a career high with two blocks. He followed that up with 13 points and eight rebound effort against Iowa State in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Of those 13 points, ten would come in the second half, including six points in the final two minutes and a key steal to seal the win with 12 seconds left and the Cyclones looking to tie the game down 63-60. The win over was Carolina’s first over a top-10 opponent since 2010.

The Gamecocks will open the conference slate with a Wednesday night matchup with Florida. Tip time at Colonial Life Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.