Jan. 18, 2013

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina welcomes former SEC East Division foe Vanderbilt to Colonial Life Arena on Saturday, continuing league play. The contest marks the 51st all-time between the two schools, with the Commodores holding a slight 26-24 edge in the series. The game will be televised on the SEC Network with Dave LaMont (play-by-play) and Kara Lawson (analyst) on the call. Saturday’s game will also see the 11-win Gamecock football team honored at halftime, with Coach Spurrier set to address the crowd. Fans can also listen on the Gamecock IMG Sports Network via GamecocksOnline.com and on 107.5 The Game in Columbia with Andy Demetra (play-by-play) and Casey Manning (analyst).

OPENING TIP
Date: Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013
Tipoff: 1:47 p.m. ET
Location: Columbia, S.C.
Arena: Colonial Life Arena (18,000)
Series: Vanderbilt leads 26-24
Last Meeting: Vanderbilt win, 59-48, Feb. 22, 2012 in Nashville, Tenn.
Television: SEC Network
Talent: Dave LaMont (pxp), Kara Lawson (analyst)
Radio: Gamecock IMG Radio Network
Sirius: 117; XM: 200
Talent: Andy Demetra (pxp), Casey Manning (analyst)
Tickets | @GamecockMBB | | Game Notes

Carolina Quick Hits
– South Carolina is in its 105th season of basketball.
– The Gamecocks are led by first-year head coach Frank Martin. His associate head coach is Brad Underwood and his assistant coaches are Matt Figger and Lamont Evans. Andy Assaley is the director of basketball operations.
– The Gamecocks are in their 22nd season of competition in the Southeastern Conference in 2013. Carolina owns a 130-209 (.383) all-time record in SEC play.
– South Carolina earned the first SEC win for head coach Frank Martin at LSU on Wednesday in an 82-73 overtime decision. Carolina was once again stellar in overtime, hitting 9-of-10 attempts in the extra session from the free throw line. Freshman forward Michael Carrera posted 23 points in 24 minutes off the bench to pace the Gamecocks in the contest.
– Carrera (23 points, 10 rebounds) and senior forward Lakeem Jackson (11 points, 11 rebounds) both collected double-doubles in the contest, marking the first time that two Gamecocks have had a double-double in the same game for the first time since the 2008 campaign.
– Jackson enters Saturday’s game vs. Vanderbilt needing just one rebound to reach 500 for his career in the Garnet and Black.
– Carrera’s 23 points scored vs. LSU were the most by a Gamecock this season, and the most by a Gamecock freshman since then-freshman Bruce Ellington also posted 23 at Florida on Jan. 15, 2011.
– Ellington has reached double digits in each game of his career vs. Vanderbilt, including a 22-point effort in an overtime win vs. the Commodores on Jan. 8, 2011. He averages 17.5 points per game vs. Vandy (four games) in his career.
– In three overtime wins this season, Carolina has hit an impressive 31-of-34 (91.1%) attempts from the free throw line during OT.
– The Gamecocks’ two SEC losses have occurred from a combined five points.
– Junior guard Damien Leonard had one of the best games of his career, and the best SEC game of his career, against Auburn last Saturday. The Greenville, S.C., native posted a season high 17 points, hitting 6-of-9 from the field, including matching his career high with five made 3s. Leonard was also just one rebound shy of collecting his first-career double-double, as he led Carolina with nine in the contest.
– Junior guard Bruce Ellington put together his best game of the season vs. Auburn last Saturday. After turning the ball over nine times vs. Mississippi State, Ellington dished a season high five assists against just two turnovers, while hitting a season high 18 points vs. the Tigers on Saturday.
– South Carolina suffered a 56-54 loss at Mississippi State on Jan. 12 in the 2013 SEC Opener. The Gamecocks struggled offensively in the contest, hitting just 39.2 percent (20-51) from the field, a near season worst in the category.
– Frank Martin owns a 51-34 (.600) all-time record in conference play.
– Junior guard Brian Richardson posted career highs in several categories vs. Mississippi State, including posting a career best 20 points to lead the Gamecocks in the contest.
– Carolina’s 24 turnovers at Mississippi State on Jan. 12 marked the second-most in a game this season for the Gamecocks (25 vs. Missouri State).

Scouting Vanderbilt
The Commodores enter Saturday’s contest with a 6-9 overall record, which includes an 0-3 mark in league games. Vandy has losses to Kentucky and Arkansas, and most recently an overtime loss to Ole Miss on Tuesday. Sophomore guard Kedren Johnson paces the team with 15.9 points per game overall and 13.3 per SEC contest. Johnson also leads the team in assists and steals. Kyle Fuller (10.5) also provides double-digit points and Kevin Bright paces the team with 6.0 rebounds per contest. Like the Vandy teams of recent years, the Commodores rely heavily on the 3, taking 22.4 attempts per game, hitting 34.5 percent. The Commodores are led by head coach Kevin Stallings in his 14th season.

Vandy Series
Vandy holds a 26-24 edge in the all-time series with South Carolina, but the Gamecocks hold a slight 12-11 lead in games played in Columbia. Vandy has won three straight games in the series, with Carolina’s last win an 83-75 overtime victory early in the 2011 SEC campaign. Below is a breakdown of the last 10 meetings between the two schools.

By The Numbers
53 – South Carolina erupted for a season high 53 points off the bench in the win at LSU. Carrera led the group with 23 points, while Williams added 16 and Slawson 11.
27 – The Gamecocks forced LSU into 22 turnovers on Wednesday, just over six more than the Tigers’ per game average entering the contest. The Gamecocks posted 27 points off of those Tiger giveaways, a season high in the category for the Garnet and Black.
2 – South Carolina posted just two made 3s at LSU on Wednesday. The Gamecocks made up for the lack of scoring from beyond the arc with 36 points in the paint and 28 from the free throw line.
28 – Carolina’s 28 made free throws marked the most points from the foul line since also posting 28 vs. Georgia Southern on Nov. 16, 2009.
37 – Carolina’s 37 attempts from the foul line at LSU marked the most since that same Georgia Southern game when the Gamecocks had 44 attempts.
16 – Junior guard Brenton Williams scored 16 points, including a 9-of-10 mark from the foul line, off the bench vs. LSU, playing 36 minutes in the contest. Williams had posted just two combined points in 12 combined minutes in the previous two SEC games this season.
21 – Freshman forward Michael Carrera scored 23 points at LSU, but scored 21 during the second half and overtime. Carrera was 9-of-10 from the free throw line, and he played the final 6:38 of regulation and all of overtime with four personal fouls.
+8.4 – Despite LSU out-rebounding the Gamecocks 40-36, Carolina still ranks second in the league and 13th in the nation in rebounding margin with a mark of +8.4. 44.1% – South Carolina leads the SEC in offensive rebounding percentage with a mark of 44.1 percent.

Up Next For The Gamecocks
South Carolina continues SEC play when it travels to Missouri on Tuesday, Jan. 22 for a 7 p.m. ET contest to be televised on ESPNU. The meeting marks the first meeting between the Gamecocks and Tigers.