Feb. 9, 2009

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Over the course of the past two weeks, the University of South Carolina Athletics Department joined forces with head men’s basketball coach Darrin Horn, the Gamecock men’s basketball squad and the University’s student body to promote “Operation Sellout” for the men’s hoops contest against Georgia on Feb. 7.

Not only did the Gamecocks collect a 79-68 victory over the visiting Bulldogs, but “Operation Sellout” proved a success, as the ticket office announced just the second sellout for a men’s basketball game in the history of Colonial Life Arena with a capacity crowd of 18,000. In addition to a season ticket base of over 9,000 distributed tickets, Carolina athletics sold over 6,000 single-game tickets for the contest, with a large number of those being sold to the Life Night and the Gamecock Club Chapter Challenge initiatives at the discounted group-rate price of $10. The students definitely did their part in the effort, as just under 3,000 student tickets were used towards the Garnet Army student section at the game.

“Our team would like to thank the Gamecock fans for coming out and supporting our team and making `Operation Sellout’ a success on Saturday against Georgia,” Horn commented. “We want to create a homecourt advantage here at Colonial Life Arena and sellout crowds are a big part of that. Our entire team is very appreciative to the Gamecock Nation.”

The Gamecocks (17-5, 6-3 SEC) will be in action again this Saturday at Alabama (3 p.m. ET, Raycom), then travel to Mississippi State next Wednesday (8 p.m. ET) before returning to the Colonial Life Arena on Saturday, Feb., 21, when they host the Arkansas Razorbacks in a 7 p.m. contest. Tickets still remain for the remaining three home games, which also includes visits from Kentucky (Feb. 25) and Tennessee (March 5). For tickets, contact the Gamecock Ticket Office at 1-800-4SC-FANS or on the official website of Gamecock Athletics at www.GamecocksOnline.com.