Dec. 1, 2008

South Carolina at Princeton | 7 p.m.

Live Audio | Game Notes

GAME INFORMATION
South Carolina at Princeton

Date: Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Tipoff: 7 p.m.
Location: Princeton, N.J.
Arena: Jadwin Gymnasium (6,854)
Series: Princeton leads, 3-2
Television: None
Radio: Gamecock Radio Network
Mike Morgan (play-by-play), Casey Manning (analyst)

Game Preview
South Carolina looks to rebound from a hard-fought 80-82 overtime loss on the road at the College of Charleston last Friday. Carolina continues its road non-conference travels at Princeton before returning home to the friendly confines of Colonial Life Arena for the remainder of the month of December. The meeting with Princeton marks the sixth in the all-time series between the two schools, where the Tigers hold a slight 3-2 edge. Carolina won the last meeting, a 54-48 win during the 2006-07 campaign. The contest also marks the first between first-year Gamecock head coach Darrin Horn and second-year Princeton head coach Sydney Johnson.

South Carolina rides the standout play of junior point guard Devan Downey, who leads the squad with 19.2 points and 4.8 assists per game, while sophomore forward Mike Holmes paces Carolina with 10.6 rebounds per contest. Princeton is led by freshman Doug Davis with 17.3 points per game. Davis is also the team’s best 3-point threat, hitting 11-of-22 attempts from beyond the arc this season.

Radio Broadcast Information
The game will be broadcast on the ISP Gamecock Radio Network with Mike Morgan on the call with play-by-play and Casey Manning handling color analyst duties. The Gamecock Radio Network reaches throughout the state of South Carolina.

Series Information – Princeton
Tuesday’s road contest at Princeton marks the sixth in the all-time series between the two schools, which Princeton leads, 3-2. The last meeting came during the 2006-07 campaign at The Colonial Center, which South Carolina won, 54-48. Tuesday’s game will mark the first between the two schools at Jadwin Gym.

Historically Versus The Ivy League
South Carolina holds a 12-5 record all-time against current members of the Ivy League. The most recent game against an Ivy League opponent came during the 2006-07 season with the Gamecocks defeating Princeton, 54-48. South Carolina’s last loss to an Ivy League opponent came in a neutral site 40-51 loss in 1992 against Princeton.

Scouting Princeton
Princeton basketball has struggled in recent seasons, long from its glory days of years past. The Tigers recently broke a 24-game road losing streak, and finished last season with a disappointing 6-23 overall record.

The Tigers began the 2008-09 campaign with consecutive home losses to Central Michigan (53-55) and Maine (55-58, OT), but rebounded with consecutive road victories at Army (55-43) and Fordham (73-61). Princeton averages just 59.0 points per contest and is 0-2 at home this season.

Doug Davis leads the squad with 17.3 points per game, while sophomore forward Kareem Maddox owns a team-best 3.3 assists and 6.0 rebounds per contest.

Princeton’s keys to the game will be its offensive point production and rebounding. The Gamecocks’ explosive offense (83.0) averages 24 more points per game than the Tigers (59.0). On the boards, Princeton has consistently held its opponent to fewer rebounds than the opponent prior, but South Carolina (44.0) averages well above the 28.8 rebounds Princeton’s first four opponents have managed per contest.

Scouting South Carolina
South Carolina suffered its first blemish of the season on Friday, dropping a hard-fought 80-82 overtime decision against College of Charleston. The loss to the Cougars was the first since the 1929-30 campaign. The Gamecocks conclude a brief two-game road spin at Princeton on Tuesday.

Carolina looks to have a mighty offensive edge against Princeton, as five Gamecocks average double-digit point totals entering Tuesday’s contest – Devan Downey, 19.2; Zam Fredrick, 15.6; Mike Holmes, 12.4; Evka Baniulis, 10.6; Dominique Archie, 10.0 – against just one averaging double-digit points for the Tigers (Doug Davis, 17.3).

Downey holds the hot hand from the field for the Gamecocks after five contests. He has led Carolina in its last two games, collecting 25 points against Gardner-Webb – sparked by an 8-of-12 (20 points) effort from the field in the second half – and posting 22 points in a valiant effort against College of Charleston. Fellow guard Zam Fredrick struggled against the Cougars, hitting just 2-of-11 attempts from the field, while he attempted just one shot from beyond the arc. His one attempt from 3-point range was only the second time in his Carolina career he has attempted fewer than three 3s in a contest.

Senior guard Branden Conrad is making the most of his heightened playing time and position in the starting lineup for Horn’s Gamecocks. Conrad has steadily improved throughout the season, capped by a 10-point effort, his first double-digit total, against College of Charleston. Conrad knows how to take care of the basketball as well, he has posted a team-low seven turnovers against 17 assists and nine steals for the season.

Dominique Archie has played solidly for Carolina in his last two outings (9 points vs. Gardner-Webb; 12 vs. Charleston) after a disappointing four-point outing versus a much weaker opponent in USC Upstate on Nov. 22. Mike Holmes tallied his second double-double of the season against Charleston, posting 14 points and 12 boards, including nine on the defensive side of the court. Holmes has tallied double-digit points in four of five contests this fall.

South Carolina’s keys to the game will be its rebounding effort and taking care of the basketball. Carolina has committed 36 turnovers in its last two contests, compared to just 39 in its first three games combined.

South Carolina In Overtime
South Carolina lost its first contest of the season on Friday against College of Charleston. The loss, an 80-82 overtime decision, marked just the second Gamecock overtime game in as many seasons. South Carolina played just one overtime contest last year, suffering a 56-61 loss to Mississippi State in SEC play on Feb. 23, 2008. South Carolina owns an 8-12 record in its last 10 seasons in overtime games.

Gamecocks In December
South Carolina is 266-259 (.506) all-time in the month of December. Carolina won three games last season during the month, defeating Providence (68-67), College of Charleston (85-82) and UC Irvine (67-65).