Feb. 23, 2008

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Team Notes
• Mississippi State leads the overall series 11-8 including a 5-4 mark in Columbia.

• Carolina’s last five home games have been decided by a combined total of 16 points with all five games being decided by six points or less.

• The Gamecocks have hit at least one three pointer in 194 consecutive games and have at least one block in 112 straight.

• The Gamecocks led 21-20 at the half. It was the lowest half-time score this season (closest was USC 26-24 vs. UGA). It was the fewest points USC has scored in the first half since it scored 13 vs. Florida Feb. 20, 2007. UF won 63-49. It is the fewest points for an opponent in the first half since Western Kentucky scored 18 points on March 15, 2006. USC won 74-55.

• Carolina has led at halftime in 16 of 26 games this season.

• South Carolina has forced double-digit turnovers against every opponent this season except two (9 against Southern California and vs. Florida).

• The 19.4% from beyond the arc for the Gamecocks was their lowest total since hitting 16.7% of their 3-point baskets against UC Irvine on Nov. 14, 2006. The Gamecocks previous season low was .231 against UC Irvine on Dec. 28, 2007.

• The overtime game was South Carolina’s first of the season. The Gamecocks last overtime game was on Feb. 28, 2007 against Vanderbilt. Carolina and Mississippi State played an overtime game on Feb. 11, 2004 where the Bulldogs won 79-75.

Player Notes
• Dominique Archie has started all 56 games played in his career. He is one start short of the longest starting streak on record set by Marius Petravicius (from first career game forward). Petravicius started all 32 of his freshman year and the first 25 of his sophomore year, not starting game No. 26 (vs. UT), but then starting the rest of the games that season.

• Archie fouled out at 5:55 remaining in regulation. Archie’s streak of 45 straight games scoring ended. The last time he did not score in a game was against College of Charleston on Dec. 5, 2006. The last time he fouled out was against Clemson on Dec. 1, 2007.

• Mike Holmes has at least 8 rebounds in the last three games. He has at least 8 in 7 games this season and at least 5 rebounds in 12 of 24 games played this season. He has 10+ rebounds in 4 games this season. The double-double was the second straight for the true freshman. Holmes has scored in double figures in 3 straight games. He is averaging 12.7 (38) points and 10.7 (32) rebounds over the last 3 contest.

• Evka Baniulis free throw attempt with 6.1 seconds remaining in regulation was his first free throw attempt of the season. His last free throw attempt was on Feb. 7, 2007 against Kentucky where he went 2-4.

• Devan Downey has scored in double figures in 25 of 26 games this season.

• Brandis Raley-Ross scored 10 points against Mississippi State. It was his first game scoring in double digits since posting 16 against the College of Charleston on Dec. 22, 2007. He has scored in double figures in 8 games this season.