Nov. 20, 2012

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s basketball team (3-0) hosts Elon (3-1) on Wednesday in a 7 p.m. matchup at Colonial Life Arena. The contest will not be televised, but live video (subscription required) will be available via GamecocksOnline.com, and the game will also be broadcast on the Gamecock IMG Sports Network. Below are game details and notes for the non-conference contest.

OPENING TIP
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012
Tipoff: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Columbia, S.C.
Arena: Colonial Life Arena (18,000)
Series: South Carolina leads 2-1
Last Meeting: Elon win, 58-53, Nov. 15, 2011 in Elon, N.C.
Television: None
Radio: Gamecock IMG Radio Network
Sirius: None; XM: None
Talent: Andy Demetra (pxp), Casey Manning (analyst)
Tickets | @GamecockMBB | | Live Video (subscription required) | Game Notes

Wednesday’s Game
South Carolina concludes a four-game homestand to open the 2012-13 season when Elon visits Colonial Life Arena on Wednesday. The contest will not be televised. Live stats will be available via GamecocksOnline.com, and fans can listen live on the Gamecock IMG Sports Network and locally in Columbia on 107.5 The Game with Andy Demetra and Casey Manning on the call. Wednesday’s game marks the fourth meeting all-time between the Gamecocks and Phoenix and the second in Columbia. Carolina holds a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series, but Elon won the most recent meeting between the two schools, 58-53 in Elon last season.

Carolina Quick Hits
– The Gamecocks are off to their first 3-0 start since the 2009-10 campaign after an overtime win vs. Milwaukee in the season opener, an 87-71 win vs. Morgan State on the 16th and most recently an 88-76 win vs. Rider on Monday.
– Freshman forward Michael Carrera, the Nov. 12 SEC Freshman of the Week, did not play vs. Morgan State or Rider due to a concussion suffered in practice on Wednesday, Nov. 14.
– South Carolina’s 81.7 percent from the free throw line leads the SEC, while individually, Brenton Williams leads the league in the category. He has made all 14 of his attempts this season.
– Williams had a career night vs. Rider, posting all-time highs in points (22), made 3-point baskets (5), 3-point attempts (8) and minutes played (38). The contest marked the second-career start for the Kissimme, Fla., native.
– Senior forward Lakeem Jackson ranks third in the SEC in field goal percentage with a mark of 69.6 (16-23). He hit 7-of-8 attempts in the victory vs. Rider.
– The Gamecocks are a stellar 23-of-25 (92.0%) from the free throw line this season with under five minutes remaining in games (including overtime).
– Carrera posted the first double-double by a Gamecock freshman since the 2008 campaign vs. Milwaukee with 17 points and a game-best 15 rebounds.
– Senior guard LaShay Page returned to practice from a hamstring strain on Nov. 7 and he was the high scorer vs. Milwaukee with 19 points and vs. Morgan State with 20.
– Williams was the hero of overtime for Carolina vs. Milwaukee, scoring 12 of 16 Gamecock points in the five-minute session, including a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line.
– Carolina owns a 285-129 all-time record against current schools in the Southern Conference. Its most common opponent in the league is instrastate rival Furman. The last Gamecock win vs. a member of the league came in a 57-45 victory vs. Wofford at Colonial Life Arena on Dec. 28, 2012. The last loss vs. a member of the league came in the 58-53 decision at Elon on Nov. 15, 2011.

Scouting Elon
Elon enters Wednesday’s contest with a 3-1 overall record and riding a three-game win streak. The squad is 3-1 to start the season for the second-straight year. Elon’s lone loss thus far came at Butler in the season opener on Nov. 10. Elon posted wins vs. Colgate and FAU last weekend to claim the EA Sports Maui Invitational Regional title, marking the program’s first regular season tournament title since the 1995-96 campaign. Junior forward Lucas Troutman paces the team in points (14.0) and rebounds (5.8) per game. He has hit 46.7 percent of his shots through the first four games. Four Elon players average double-digit points entering Wednesday’s contest. The squad is led by Davidson grad, Matt Matheny in his fourth season.

Series History vs. Elon
Wednesday’s contest marks just the fourth meeting all-time between the Gamecocks and Phoenix. South Carolina holds a slight 2-1 advantage in the series, but Elon won the most recent meeting, 58-53 last season on its homecourt. The first meeting all-time between the two squads came during the 1966 season in a neutral site (Charlotte, N.C.) 102-78 victory for the Gamecocks. Skip Harlicka was the leading scorer in that contest with 28 points. The next meeting saw Elon travel to Columbia 44 years later in a 94-79 Carolina win on Nov. 12, 2010. The Phoenix posted their first win in the series early last season.

By The Numbers
52.9% – Over the course of the last two games South Carolina has hit 52.9 percent of its shots, including hitting 32-of-60 vs. Rider on Monday.
6 – Junior guard Brian Richardson dished a career high six assists vs. Rider. It was the most by any Gamecock this season, and the most in a single game since then-sophomore guard Bruce Ellington dished six in last seasons finale. It was the most for someone other than Ellington since then-freshman Eric Smith dished seven vs. Ole Miss on Feb. 22, 2011.
80+ – South Carolina has posted three straight games of 80 or more points for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign.
22 – Carolina’s 22 assists vs. Rider marked the first game that the Gamecocks dished 20 or more assists since earning 23 vs. Elon on Nov. 12, 2010.
4 – At least four Gamecocks have posted double-digit points in each game this season.
19.7 – Eight different players average at least 19.7 minutes per game thus far during the 2011-12 campaign led by Lakeem Jackson with 35.3 minutes per outing.