March 13, 2005

The University of South Carolina men’s basketball team will host the University of Miami (Fla.) at 7:30 pm on March 15 in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) at the Colonial Center. The game will not be televised but can be heard on the Gamecock Radio Network.

Ticket information follows below.

It’s the Gamecocks ninth appearance in the NIT (11-8) with their last appearance netting an NIT Championship final appearance with Memphis (lost 62-72 after defeating Syracuse 66-59 in the semi-finals). See full results below.

USC is 15-13 and was 7-9 in the SEC, and Miami is 16-12 and 7-9 in the ACC. The USC-Miami winner will play the winner of the Arizona State-UNLV game. Game time and date to be released later this week.

“We are delighted to be picked and playing in the NIT. While we didn’t finish the regular season the way we would have liked, we are capable of getting our game back for the NIT. We look forward to playing Miami,” said South Carolina Head Coach Dave Odom. “The Hurricanes have more than proven themselves in their first year of play in the ACC. They swept both Florida State and Clemson and beat SEC Tournament champion Florida in Gainesville. We look forward to the challenges they will present us with on Tuesday night in Columbia.”

Miami’s first year head coach Frank Haith, who spent a month in 2001 as a Gamecock assistant under Odom, was previously an assistant coach at Texas (2001-2004). Prior to working at Texas and USC, he was an assistant coach under Coach Odom from 1997-2001 at Wake Forest. Miami assistant coach Barclay Radebaugh was an assistant coach at USC from 1999-2001 under then head coach Eddie Fogler.

NIT Tickets

National Invitational Tournament tickets will go on-sale Monday, March 14 at 10:00am.

Tickets can be purchased at the Colonial Center, by calling 1-866-472-8499 or by visiting www.thecolonialcenter.com. Tickets are $17.00 for lower level seating and $10.00 for upper level seating. Due to time limitations, we are expecting a large will call pick-up. Using the on-line print at home function will help expedite your entry into the Colonial Center. All reserve seating will be sold on a first come first serve basis.

USC Student Tickets

USC student tickets are $4.00 and can be purchased at the Russell House with a valid USC Id starting at 10:00am on Monday March 14.

USC’s National Invitation Tournament History

Eight Tournaments: Won 11, Lost 8.

1969: Madison Square Garden; New York

M.15 Southern Illinois 72-63 W

M.18 Army 45-59 L

1975: Madison Square Garden; New York

M.16 Connecticut 71-61 W

M.18 Princeton 67-86 L

1978: Reynolds Coliseum; Raleigh, N.C.

M.10 North Carolina State 70-82 L

1983: Frank McGuire Arena; Columbia, S.C.

M.16 Old Dominion 100-90 W

M.21 Virginia Tech 75-68 W

Greensboro Coliseum; Greensboro, N.C.

M.24 Wake Forest 61-78 L

1991: Frank McGuire Arena; Columbia, S.C.

M.15 George Washington 69-63 W

Albany Civic Center; Albany, N.Y.

M.19 Siena 58-63 L

1996: Frank McGuire Arena; Columbia, S.C.

M.13 Davidson 100-73 W

M.18 Vanderbilt 80-70 W

M.20 Alabama 67-68 L

2001: Harry A. Gampel Pavilion; Storrs, Conn.

M.14 Connecticut 65-72 L

2002: University Hall; Charlottesville, Va.

M.13 Virginia 74-67 W

Frank McGuire Arena; Columbia, S.C.

M.19 Nevada-Las Vegas 75-65 W

M.21 Ball State 82-47 W

Madison Square Garden; New York City, N.Y.

M.26 Syracuse 66-59 W

M.28 Memphis 62-72 L

(Second Place)

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