Oct. 14, 2013

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina athletics is excited to announce student information and promotions for the Oct. 26 Tip-Off Tailgate Party With Gamecock Basketball event at Colonial Life Arena, with doors set to open at 5:30 p.m., and the program to begin at 6 p.m., which is one hour prior to kickoff of the Gamecocks at Missouri football contest.

Students in attendance will receive double rewards points (two points), and if 2,000 or more students attend, the rewards points awarded for the event will be doubled to four. Free food will be available, and the new official student section T-shirt will be provided for the first 2,000 students. Like on game days, students should enter at the College Street entrance at Colonial Life Arena.

Additionally, one lucky student will be randomly selected from the crowd to attempt a half-court shot to win $10,000 in cash. Men’s basketball head coach Frank Martin will also make a special announcement to students who attend the event as well as all of his team’s home non-conference games this season.

After a fun and interactive hour with the basketball teams, fans can stay at Colonial Life Arena to watch the Missouri football contest on the video board, and enjoy available concessions as they cheer on the Gamecock football squad to victory.

The event will also be an opportunity for fans to purchase and select seats for new season ticket holders. Representatives from the South Carolina basketball season ticket sales team will be on hand throughout the arena to assist fans through the ticket purchase and seat selection process.

The Tip-Off Tailgate Party will feature exciting programming, including scrimmages from both squads, skills competitions such as a 3-point shootout contest, comments to the crowd from Martin and women’s head coach Dawn Staley, and autograph and photo opportunities for fans.

Fans should use the hashtag #TipOffTailgate when spreading the word about the event via social media.

Fans can purchase tickets for both men’s and women’s basketball by visiting www.GamecocksOnline.com/Tickets, or call 1-800-4SC-FANS.