Oct. 25, 2014

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – As the start of the 2014-15 campaign draws closer, GamecocksOnline.com takes a look at some notable moments in South Carolina basketball history by the tens, detailing notables every 10 days until the week of the season opener versus North Florida (Nov. 14), when we will have a daily post. We’ll look at certain eras in Gamecock history and we’ll revisit great games, great moments and Gamecock greats throughout the feature.

The start of the regular season is just 20 days away, so we take a look back at just one aspect of Sindarius Thornwell’s historic freshman campaign. During his first season with the Gamecocks, Thornwell broke BJ McKie’s record for most 20-point games in SEC play by a Gamecock freshman. McKie eclipsed the 20-point mark four times during his freshman campaign, a record that stood since the 1995-1996 season. Last season, Thornwell scored 20 or more points in six SEC games.

Details on each player’s 20-point conference games can be found below:

BJ McKie: 1996, 20-point SEC games
January 10, 1996: Knoxville, Tenn.
South Carolina 62 – Tennessee 58
McKie scored a 24 points in efficient fashion against the Volunteers. He shot 6-of-8 from the field, including a perfect 3-of-3 from behind the arc and was 9-of-10 from the free throw line. This marked the first time in his career that he led the Gamecocks in scoring.

February 3, 1996: Fayetteville, Ark.
South Carolina 69 – Arkansas 81
McKie put on another efficient shooting performance against the Razorbacks, shooting 8-of-12 from the field and 5-of-8 from long distance on his way to 24 points. McKie shot 3-of-6 from the free throw line. He also grabbed four rebounds and tallied two assists.

February 10, 1996: Columbia, S.C.
South Carolina 106 – LSU 68
McKie contributed 20 points to the Gamecocks’ 106-point total, the team’s second highest scoring output of the season. He shot 6-of-10 from the field, 3-of-4 from 3-point range, and 5-of-7 from the free throw line. McKie also notched five rebounds and three assists.

February 17, 1996: Nashville, Tenn.
South Carolina 97 – Vanderbilt 107
McKie shot 6-of-12 from the field and 4-of-7 from long distance on his way to another 20-point performance. He was a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line, grabbed three rebounds, and dished out two assists.

• Only one of his 20-point games came in Columbia.
• McKie led the Gamecocks in scoring seven times during the 1995-1996 season, all during SEC play.
• McKie averaged 15.4 points per game on the season and 15.6 points per game during conference play

Sindarius Thornwell: 2014, 20-point SEC games
January 11, 2014: Columbia, S.C.
South Carolina 68 – LSU 71
Thornwell scored 25 points and grabbed five rebounds in the Gamecocks first home SEC matchup of the season. In 35 minutes he shot 9-of-13 from the field, 1-of-3 from long distance and 6-of-9 from the free throw line.

January 18, 2014: Columbia, S.C.
South Carolina 74 – Ole Miss 75
Thornwell filled the stat sheet in this loss to the Rebels, scoring 24 points on 7-of-16 shooting, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range and 6-of-10 from the free throw line. This game also marked Thornwell’s first-career double-double. He grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds and dished out four assists to accompany his outstanding scoring performance.

January 22, 2014: Athens, Ga.
South Carolina 76 – Georgia 97
Following up the best statistical performance of his career, Thornwell scored a career-high 26 points against the Bulldogs. He was an efficient 8-of-12 from the field, and 9-of-12 from the free throw line. Thornwell also tallied four rebounds and four assists in the contest.

February 1, 2014: Oxford, Miss.
South Carolina 71 – Ole Miss 75
Much like his first meeting with the Rebels, Thornwell did much more than just put up points. In a then-season-high 39 minutes, he grabbed five rebounds and tallied six assists to go along with his 20 points. Thornwell shot 7-of-12 from the field, 2-of-4 from 3-point range, and 4-of-4 from the free throw line. This game also marked the beginning of a seven-game streak recording least four assists.

February 15, 2014: Columbia, S.C.
South Carolina 67 – Alabama 66
Thornwell broke McKie’s record of 20-point SEC games by a South Carolina freshman when he scored 22 points in his first ever meeting with the Crimson Tide. He shot 6-of-11 from the field, 1-of-4 from long distance, and 9-of-10 from the free throw line. It was another versatile game for Thornwell, grabbing four rebounds and tallying four assists.

March 8, 2014: Starkville, Miss.
South Carolina 74 – Mississippi State 62
In the Gamecocks’ final regular season game of 2014, Thornwell extended his lead over McKie with a 22-point performance against the Bulldogs. He attempted a career high 19 field goals, converting on nine. He shot 2-of-3 from both 3-point range and the free throw line. Thornwell also grabbed 11 rebounds for the second double-double of his career. He also dished out four assists in the win.

• Four of Thornwell’s six 20-point performances came on the road.
• Thornwell averaged 13.4 points per game during his freshman season and 15.6 points per game in SEC matchups.

Season ticket prices for the upcoming season remain unchanged from the 2013-14 campaign, with full season packages starting at $90. Like last season, fans can purchase lower level season tickets for $260 (Gamecock Club membership required for sections 104-106, 113-115) and University faculty and staff can buy tickets for $210. The Coke Family Sections are available for $600 (four tickets). Upper level tickets are available for $200 (no Gamecock Club membership required) and faculty and staff can purchase tickets in the upper bowl for $160. End zone seating in the upper level is priced at four seats for $360. To purchase season tickets, fans should visit GamecocksOnline.com/Tickets or call 1-800-4SC-FANS.

Feature written by Media Relations student assistant Jackson Filyo