Nov. 15, 2009

South Carolina (1-0) continues non-conference play when it hosts Georgia Southern (1-0) on Monday evening at Colonial Life Arena. Game time is set for 7 p.m. versus the Eagles. The game marks the first of four contests in seven days for the Gamecocks. The contest will be televised by SportSouth, while fans can access the game on the radio via the Gamecock Radio Network affiliate in respective areas across the state.

South Carolina Game Notes

GAME INFORMATION
Date: Monday, November 16, 2009
Tipoff: 7 p.m.
Location: Columbia, S.C.
Arena: Colonial Life Arena (18,000)
Series: South Carolina leads 11-3
Television: SportSouth
Talent: Tom Werme (play-by-play), Eddie Fogler (analyst)
Radio: Gamecock Radio Network
Talent: Andy Demetra (play-by-play), Casey Manning (analyst)
Live Stats: GamecocksOnline.com
Tickets: Tickets are available via the Gamecock Ticket Office.

Carolina Quick Hits
– South Carolina is in its 102nd season of basketball.
– Carolina’s 52 first-half points against Alabama A&M were the most in an opening 20 minutes for the Gamecocks since a 55-point effort in the first half vs. South Carolina State in the 2007-08 season opener.
– Following its 88-50 victory over Alabama A&M last Friday, Carolina owns a 73-29 (.716) all-time record in season openers, including a 9-1 record in the last 10 seasons.
– Darrin Horn is 6-1 all-time in season openers. Horn’s only loss in a season opener came coincidentally against an SEC school, as Auburn got the best of Western Kentucky in 2003.
– South Carolina is 69-26 (.726) all-time in the month of November. Carolina went 4-1 last season during the month.
– Senior point guard Devan Downey tallied 15 of South Carolina’s first 30 points against Alabama A&M. The Chester, S.C., native posted a game-high 23 points in 22 minutes in the Carolina victory. Downey has led Carolina in scoring 44 times during his career in the Garnet and Black.
– Junior forward Sam Muldrow tallied his first-career 3-pointer against Alabama A&M. Muldrow and junior Johndre Jefferson each pulled down a team-best seven rebounds and three blocks against the Bulldogs.
– South Carolina is 279-126 all-time in games played against members of the Southern Conference. Carolina’s last victory against a SoCon opponent came in a 78-61 victory over Wofford on Jan. 5, 2009. The last Gamecock loss to a SoCon foe came against Davidson in the NIT last March. The Wildcats collected a 70-63 win over Carolina.
– Darrin Horn enters his second season at the helm of the South Carolina program for the 2009-10 season. Horn led Carolina to a 21-10 record, including a 10-6 mark in league action and a share of the SEC East title last season.
– The Gamecocks received one vote in the recent preseason coaches poll, while Carolina received 28 votes in the preseason AP poll.
– Senior forward Dominique Archie has started all 94 games of his Carolina career. Archie needs just 44 points to reach 1,000 for his career.
– The Gamecocks were picked by the media to finish fourth in the highly-competitive SEC East. Carolina shared the SEC Eastern Division title with Tennessee last season.
– Carolina returns a trio of All-SEC performers from last season in seniors Devan Downey, Dominique Archie and Brandis Raley-Ross. The trio combined for 36.1 points, 6.6 assists and 4.8 steals per game last year for Carolina.
– South Carolina collected a 16-3 record in games played at Colonial Life Arena last season, including a 7-1 mark in SEC contests.
– Senior point guard Devan Downey was tabbed a preseason first-team All-SEC performer by the media and was a unanimous first-team pick by league coaches. Classmate Dominique Archie was selected to the preseason second team by the coaches.

Series Information
– South Carolina owns an 11-3 upperhand in the all-time series vs. Georgia Southern.
– The team’s last met Feb. 14, 1996, a 57-45 Gamecock win. Larry Davis led Carolina with 20 points and Ryan Stack collected a team-best seven rebounds. BJ McKie also had a strong performance in the contest, posting 15 points, including 9-of-9 from the charity stripe.
– The Gamecocks have won two straight in the series.

Season Opener Notables
– South Carolina had four players – all upperclassmen – score double figures against Alabama A&M. Junior forward Sam Muldrow tallied 13 points, just his third-career double-digit scoring performance.
– Senior guard Devan Downey posted a game-best 23 points. It marked Downey’s 31st 20-point effort of his Gamecock career.
– Senior forward Dominique Archie posted a team-high four steals, one shy of his career high. Archie had 13 games with at least two steals last season.
– Freshman guard Ramon Galloway struggled from the floor but collected six rebounds and dished two assists in 23 minutes.
– All 12 South Carolina players who are eligible to play this season saw game action versus A&M.

Scouting Georgia Southern
– Georgia Southern easily defeated Reinhardt in its season opener on Friday. The Eagles saw five score in double figures, led by Rory Spencer and Johntavious Rucker with 16 each, in the 108-59 win.
– Rucker, who missed last season with a knee injury, had a career day, collecting a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while also posting five assists and a school record eight steals.
– Georgia Southern scored 43 points off of 27 Reinhardt turnovers in the contest.
– The win over Reinhardt marked the first for head coach, and Georgia Southern alum, Charlton Young.

Up Next For Carolina
– Following Monday night’s contest against Georgia Southern, South Carolina travels to the low country to participate in the 2009 Charleston Classic. Carolina will face La Salle in the tournament’s opening round on Thursday evening.
– La Salle collected an 83-80 victory over Hampton in its 2009-10 season opener on Saturday. Senior guard Rodney Green led all scorers with 23 points, while collecting seven rebounds and adding five assists.
– Freshman Aaric Murray was named the Atlantic 10 co-Rookie of the Week on Sunday. Murray had 16 points and collected 11 rebounds in his college debut against Hampton.
– La Salle finished the 2008-09 campaign with an 18-13 record, including a 9-7 slate in Atlantic 10 Conference action. Four Explorers finished the season averaging double-digits in scoring, led by Green with 17.8 points per contest. The Explorers are led by Dr. John Giannini, who is in his sixth season at the helm of the La Salle program.