Nov. 21, 2009

The South Carolina men’s basketball team (4-0) has advanced to the title game of the Second Annual Charleston Classic and will play Miami (4-0) for the tournament title on Sunday at 6 p.m. The contest will be televised on ESPN2 with Jay Williams and Justin Kutcher on the call, while fans can also access the game on the radio via the Gamecock Radio Network affiliate in respective areas across the state.

Carolina Quick Hits

South Carolina Game Notes vs. Miami

– South Carolina is in its 102nd season of basketball.
– Sunday’s game vs. Miami marks South Carolina’s fifth game in nine days.
– Carolina’s 9.3 blocked shots per game rank second in the Southeastern Conference. In its two contests at the Charleston Classic, South Carolina is averaging 8.0 blocks per contest, led by junior Sam Muldrow with 3.0 blocks per game.
– Seniors Devan Downey (16.0 ppg, t-16th) and Dominique Archie (16.3 ppg, 15th) rank among the top 20 scorers in the SEC. Each has led the Gamecocks in scoring twice this season.
– South Carolina is 72-26 (.735) all-time in the month of November. Carolina went 4-1 last season during the month.
– South Carolina is 280-398 all-time against current schools in the ACC. The last Gamecock victory over an ACC opponent came in a 69-68 overtime win over Florida State in the Postseason NIT during the 2005-06 campaign.
– South Carolina has four players currently averaging double-figures entering Sunday’s contest vs. Miami, led by Dominique Archie (16.3), Devan Downey (16.0), Mike Holmes (12.3) and Brandis Raley-Ross (10.0).
– Six Gamecocks average at least 19 minutes per contest, while five average at least 20.
– Carolina won its fourth-straight contest to start the season for the second-consecutive year.

South Florida Contest Recap
– After jumping out to a quick 4-0 lead on back-to-back buckets from Sam Muldrow, South Carolina struggled to find offensive rhythm the rest of the first half in its 69-66 victory over South Florida. The Gamecocks hit just 11-of-32 in the first half, including an 0-8 mark from beyond the arc.
– South Florida led much of the first half before Carolina rallied late in the half to pull within six at the break. A Mike Holmes tip-in at the 19:44 mark of the second half sparked an 11-3 Gamecock run over the next five minutes to give South Carolina a lead it wouldn’t give up.
– Senior forward Dominique Archie became the 41st member of the South Carolina 1,000 point club in the contest. Archie broke South Carolina’s drought from beyond the arc, hitting a crucial 3 with 17:32 remaining in the contest to secure the career mark.
– South Carolina has had its ups and downs throughout the early 2009-10 campaign at the free-throw line, but its solid effort at the charity stripe earned the Gamecocks their victory over USF. Hitting 11-of-14 at the line in the final 1:49 against USF, Devan Downey (3-4), Dominique Archie (2-2), Sam Muldrow (1-2), Ramon Galloway (3-4) and Brandis Raley-Ross (2-2) put up a solid performance at the line for Carolina down the stretch to secure the victory.
– It was another block party for the Gamecocks against the Bulls. Led by Sam Muldrow with six – one shy of matching his career high – Carolina collected seven blocks in the contest. Muldrow ranks fourth in the SEC with 3.3 blocks per game.

Did You Know?
– South Carolina’s last championship game appearance in a regular-season tournament came during the 2003-04 season when the Gamecocks defeated Richmond – a future 2009-10 season opponent – 67-61 in the title game of the Guardians Classic in Kansas City, Mo. Tarence Kinsey led Carolina with 15 points in the contest and was named the tournament’s MVP following the victory.

Scouting Miami
– Miami advanced to the championship contest with victories over Tulane and UNC-Wilmington at the Charleston Classic. The Hurricanes enter the contest with a 4-0 mark on the year.
– Dwayne Collins led Miami with his 15th career double-double against Tulane with 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Malcolm Grant led the Hurricanes against UNCW with 18 points.
– Miami owns a .527 field goal percentage on the year. The Hurricanes have hit at least 50.0 percent of their field goals in every contest this season.