Dec. 23, 2008

Recap | Final Stats | Quotes

–With tonight’s win, the Gamecocks improve to 30-8 all-time against Presbyterian. South Carolina is 3-0 against the Big South Conference this season with previous victories over Winthrop and Gardner-Webb.

–At 9-1, the Gamecocks are off to their best start since the 2003-04 season when they went 13-1 prior to SEC play. Carolina is 8-0 in the friendly confines of Colonial Life Arena; the Gamecocks started 10-0 at home during that 2003-04 season.

–South Carolina allowed only 18 points in the first half, the lowest total the Gamecocks have allowed in a half this season. The last time the Gamecocks held an opponent to under 20 points in a half was March 9, 2006, against Mississippi State in the SEC Tournament. In that game, the Bulldogs were held to 19 points in the second stanza as South Carolina pulled out a 59-44 win in Nashville, Tenn. The last time a Carolina opponent scored fewer than 20 in the first half was earlier that season against Detroit Mercy when the Titans only managed 15 in the opening period on Dec. 31, 2005.

–The Gamecocks shot 58.2% in the contest, including 68.0% in the second half, both season highs. The last time Carolina shot a percentage this high was March 28, 2006, when the Gamecocks shot 60% on the night in a 78-63 victory over Louisville in the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament at Madison Square Garden.

–Dominique Archie hit his first eight field goal attempts of the night and added a pair of free throws as he surpassed his season high before the halftime break. Archie had 17 points in the first half en route to a 19-point night; he missed a double-double by one rebound as he pulled down nine boards in the contest.

–Mike Holmes hit the first 3-point field goal of his career midway through the first half to jumpstart a career night. He finished with 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting, eclipsing his previous career high of 18 against Auburn on March 1 of last season. Holmes also pulled down eight rebounds and had a block in 31 minutes.

–Devan Downey hit double digits for the 10th straight game – every game so far this season – and the 38th time in his Carolina career, scoring 13 points while also posting three assists, one steal and one block on the night.

–Brandis Raley-Ross pulled down a season-high seven rebounds and scored six points on the night while logging a season high 29 minutes.