Nov. 18, 2012

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s basketball team (2-0) is set to host Rider (2-1) on Monday night, continuing play in the Hoops For Hope Classic. Below are game details and notes for the contest.

OPENING TIP
Date: Monday, Nov. 19, 2012
Tipoff: 7:04 p.m. ET
Location: Columbia, S.C.
Arena: Colonial Life Arena (18,000)
Series: Rider leads 1-0
Last Meeting: Rider win, 63-56, Dec. 18, 1982 in Columbia, S.C.
Television: Fox Sports Carolinas
Talent: Andy Demetra (pxp), Eddie Fogler (analyst)
Radio: Gamecock IMG Radio Network
Sirius: 113; XM: 199
Talent: Derek Scott (pxp), Casey Manning (analyst)
Tickets | @GamecockMBB | | Game Notes

Carolina Quick Hits
– The Gamecocks will play four games in the next seven days, including home contests vs. Rider and Elon.
– Monday’s contest vs. Rider concludes home games for the Hoops For Hope Classic. South Carolina will travel to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to conclude tournament play next weekend beginning with a contest vs. Missouri State on Nov. 24.
– The Gamecocks are off to their first 2-0 start since the 2009-10 campaign after an overtime win vs. Milwaukee in the season opener, and more recently an 87-71 win vs. Morgan State last Friday at Colonial Life Arena.
– Freshman forward Michael Carrera, the Nov. 12 SEC Freshman of the Week, did not play vs. Morgan State due to a concussion suffered in practice on Wednesday, Nov. 14.
– Morgan State’s 48 points in the paint were the most in the category by a Gamecock opponent since Kentucky also posted 48 on Jan. 7, 2012.
– South Carolina’s 82.5 percent from the free throw line leads the SEC, while individually, Brenton Williams is tied for first in the category. He has made all 11 of his attempts this season.
– Williams earned the first start of his career vs. Morgan State. He scored 14 points in the contest.
– Each Gamecock who saw significant playing time vs. Morgan State collected at least two rebounds, led by Lakeem Jackson with eight and RJ Slawson with seven, including a team-best six on the offensive glass.
– 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 16-7 record against schools in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The last time Carolina played a school from the league came in a 63-58 loss at Siena on March 19, 1991 in the postseason NIT. The last Gamecock win vs. a member of the MAAC came in a 75-50 win vs. Iona on Jan. 14, 1987, in a contest at the Medowlands.

Scouting Rider
The Broncs begin a lengthy road trip – a four-game, nine-day swing – including a trip to Puerto Vallarta, on Monday at South Carolina. Rider posted a convincing 79-54 win vs. Robert Morris in the season opener on Nov. 9, before suffering a 54-46 loss to Stony Brook on the 17th. Junior guard Nuri Lindsey was named the MAAC Player of the Week on Nov. 12 for his play vs. Robert Morris. The transfer from St. John’s scored 26 points and dished five assists in the Broncs win. Junior forward Daniel Stewart scored 18 points to lead Rider to a 65-62 win over Monmouth on Saturday night. The Broncs are led by first-year head coch Kevin Baggett. He previously held the position of associate head coach at Rider since the 2008-09 campaign.

By The Numbers
52.6% – South Carolina’s 52.6 percent (30-57) from the field vs. Morgan State marked the best showing for Carolina from the floor since hitting 52.4 percent (22-42) vs. Southern Cal on Nov. 26, 2011.
30 – Carolina’s 30 made shots were the most since hitting 30 in the 2011-12 season opener vs. Western Carolina when the Gamecocks hit 30-of-59 attempts. It is only the third time in the last 50 games that Carolina has made 30 or more shots.
22 – Morgan State collected just 22 rebounds (6,O-16,D) vs. Carolina on Nov. 16. It was the fewest by a Gamecock opponent since Princeton also managed just 22 (7,0-15,D) in a 54-48 Carolina win on Dec. 20, 2006.
58.5% – The Gamecocks hit 58.5 percent of their shots from within the 3-point line vs. Morgan State. Junior guard Brian Richardson was 2-of-3 and sophomore guard Damien Leonard was a perfect 3-of-3 on attempts around the basket.
6-of-9 – Junior guard Eric Smith posted career highs with six made free throws on nine attempts.
15.0 – South Carolina ranks fourth in the SEC through the first two games of the season with 15.0 offensive rebounds per contest, which result in 16.5 second chance points per game for Carolina. Gamecock opponents post just 7.0 second chance points per game, including Morgan State who scored just four.

Up Next For The Gamecocks
South Carolina hosts Elon on Wednesday, Nov. 21, in a non-conference match up at Colonial Life Arena. The contest will not be televised. Fans should follow live stats on GamecocksOnline.com, and listen live on the Gamecock IMG Sports Network and on 107.5 The Game in Columbia.