Feb. 1, 2013

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina returns to Colonial Life Arena on Saturday to host the Georgia Bulldogs in the first of two contests between the two former SEC East rivals in 2013. The meeting marks the 99th all-time between the two border rivals, with the Gamecocks holding a slight 50-48 edge in the all-time series. The contest will be televised on the SEC Network with Dave LaMont (play-by-play) and Kyle Macy (analyst) on the call for the 1:47 p.m. ET matchup. Fans can also listen on the Gamecock IMG Sports Network via GamecocksOnline.com and on 107.5 The Game in Columbia with Andy Demetra (play-by-play) and Casey Manning (analyst).

OPENING TIP
Date: Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013
Tipoff: 1:47 p.m. ET
Location: Columbia, S.C.
Arena: Colonial Life Arena (18,000)
Series: South Carolina leads 50-48
Last Meeting: Georgia win, 67-55, March 3, 2012, in Athens, Ga.
Television: SEC Network
Talent: Dave LaMont (pxp), Kyle Macy (analyst)
Radio: Gamecock IMG Radio Network
Sirius: 93; XM: 199
Talent: Andy Demetra (pxp), Casey Manning (analyst)
Tickets | @GamecockMBB | | ESPN3 | Game Notes | SEC Network Affiliates

Legends Weekend
South Carolina welcomes back over 70 “Gamecock Legends,” in former men’s basketball players to Columbia this weekened. Legends from all eras of Gamecock hoops will attend Saturday’s home game following a Friday full of festivities, including a reception in the Frank McGuire room at Colonial Life Arena. The Legends will also be honored with recognition at halftime of the game vs. Georgia.

#2KvsUGA
– We have a goal of hitting the 2,000 mark for student attendance! Join the conversation on Twitter with the #2KvsUGA hashtag!
Click here for more information on prizes and promotions for students!

Carolina Quick Hits
– South Carolina is in its 105th season of basketball.
– The Gamecocks are led by first-year head coach Frank Martin. His associate head coach is Brad Underwood and his assistant coaches are Matt Figger and Lamont Evans. Andy Assaley is the director of basketball operations.
– The Gamecocks are in their 22nd season of competition in the Southeastern Conference in 2013. Carolina owns a 131-212 (.381) all-time record in SEC play.
– The Gamecocks look to rebound after most recently suffering a 75-36 loss on the road at No. 4 Florida on Wednesday. Only freshman forward Michael Carrera reached double-figures in the contest, scoring a team high 13. South Carolina committed 17 turnovers in the game, with the Gators capitalizing for 22 points off of those giveaways.
– South Carolina shot a season high 57.7 percent (30-52) from the field, including a near season best of hitting 7-of-12 (58.3%) from beyond the arc, in a convicing 75-54 victory over Arkansas at Colonial Life Arena last Saturday. The win marked Carolina’s first in league play at home this season. The 21-point margin of victory marked the largest in conference play since an 18-point win over Kentucky on Feb. 25, 2009. It was the first margin of at least 20 points in SEC play since an 83-61 win over Mississippi State on Feb. 11, 2006. Both of those wins occurred at Colonial Life Arena.
– After trailing 15-3, South Carolina ended the first half vs. Arkansas on a 40-11 run over the final 14:49 of the first half.
– Carolina’s 75 points vs. Arkansas were the most in a regulation SEC game since posting a 79-73 win vs. Ole Miss on Feb. 22, 2011.
– Over the course of the last five games, freshman forward Michael Carrera is averaging 11.2 points and 7.4 rebounds in 22.2 minutes per game to lead the Gamecocks in both categories during the stretch. Carrera scored a team high 13 points and collected a game high nine rebounds at No. 4 Florida earlier this week.
– Carrera’s 7.0 rebounds per game (overall games) ranks second among freshmen in the SEC.

Scouting Georgia
Georgia enters Saturday’s contest with a 9-11 overall record, including a 3-4 mark in league games. The Bulldogs have won two straight – at Texas A&M and vs. Auburn – entering Saturday’s contest. The Bulldogs have won three of their last four games, also defeating LSU, with the only loss in the stretch vs. then-No. 8/7 Florida. Sophomore guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who leads the team and ranks second in the SEC (overall games) with 17.5 points per game, while his 17.4 per league game rank fourth, scored 20 points in the victory over Auburn on Wednesday. Pope also pulled down 10 rebounds vs. the Tigers to collect his third double-double of the season. He also ranks among league leaders with 2.4 steals per game (overall games). In league games, Georgia ranks third with a 36.2 percentage from beyond the arc, while on the opposite side, its opponents hit 38.3 from 3-point range, which ranks Georgia 14th in the league in the category. The Bulldogs are led by head coach Mark Fox in his fourth season in Athens.

Up Next For The Gamecocks
South Carolina travels to Kentucky on Tuesday for a 9 p.m. ET matchup set to be televised on ESPNU. The Gamecocks aim for their first win in Lexington since the 2009 campaign.

Georgia Series
South Carolina holds a 50-48 edge in the all-time series vs. Georgia, including a 30-16 upperhand in games played in Columbia. The Bulldogs enter Saturday’s contest having won four of the last five meetings between the two schools.

By The Numbers
36 – South Carolina’s 36 points vs. Florida marked the fewest-ever in an SEC game for the Gamecocks.
3 – Three Gamecocks average double-figure points in home games this season, with junior guard Bruce Ellington leading the way with 11.8 per contest, while junior guard Brenton Williams adds 11.4 and senior forward Lakeem Jackson provides 10.5.
12.6 – South Carolina matches Texas A&M for second in the league with 12.6 offensive rebounds per contest in league games in 2013.