Dec. 31, 2012

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – South Carolina’s Mindaugas Kacinas, a 6-foot-7, 210-pound freshman forward from Klaipeda, Lithuania, was named SEC Freshman of the Week after scoring 13 points and gathering three rebounds against Presbyterian last week. Kacinas stepped up for a shorthanded South Carolina squad as the Gamecocks were without junior guard Bruce Ellington, senior guard LaShay Page and freshman forward Michael Carrera against the Blue Hose. Kacinas converted 75 percent (6-of-8) of his field goals and each of his rebounds came at the offensive end. This is the first weekly honor for Kacinas.

South Carolina concludes non-conference play when it hosts SC State on Jan. 5. at 1:30 p.m. The contest will be televised on FSN.